Northumbria chief Karl Wilson cleared of assaulting his wife

Karl Wilson had denied the charges

A police chief has been cleared of a drunken assault on his wife at their Newcastle home.

Northumbria Police chief superintendent Karl Wilson was alleged to have assaulted his wife Helen over messages on his phone on 28 October.

The 49-year-old had faced two counts of assault and causing criminal damage, which he denied.

In a day-long trial at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court, Mr Wilson was cleared by District Judge Paul Currer.

The court heard how a "domestic incident" had taken place at the family home when Mrs Wilson returned to find her husband "intoxicated".

Michael Bunch, prosecuting, said she had looked at her husband's phone amid concerns about his "faithfulness".

When Mr Wilson became aware of what she was doing and tried to grab the phone but Mrs Wilson ran outside, the prosecution said.

The officer then "rugby tackled her to the floor" and knelt on her chest for about 15 seconds while attempting to prise the phone from her hands, the court heard.

Police arrived and while they attended, Mr Wilson saw his wife was still holding a phone and made a bid to grab it, the court heard.

Mr Bunch said Mr Wilson later said he was acting in self-defence while she remonstrated with him and "in effect he put her in a bear-hug until she calmed down".

The prosecution said Mrs Wilson had attended court but did not wish to give evidence and they would not compel her to do so

Mr Currer said he was satisfied Mr Wilson had struggled with his wife to grab his phone following a short "melee" at the bottom of the stairs while he was being taken away.

But he said he did not think he "took hold of her at all" and the case was not proven.

Leaving court, Mr Wilson, who had been suspended by the force, declined to comment.