English rock band Kasabian announced that they had parted ways with their former frontman Tom Meighan yesterday, providing only sparse details regarding this “mutual” break from the group. Meighan has now been sentenced to 200 hours of community service, after pleading guilty for assaulting his ex-fiancee Vikki Ager.
According to The Guardian: “The court heard that Ager was hit in the face, shoved up against a hamster cage, pushed over repeatedly, held by the throat and threatened with a wooden pallet,” during an assault on April 9. Nicki Norman, the acting chief executive of Women’s Aid, a domestic abuse charity said “This was not appropriate sentencing,” in regards to this case.
“Robust sentencing is important for ensuring abusers are brought to justice and for improving survivors’ confidence in the criminal justice system – which far too often they tell us fails to protect them,” Norman explained
Footage from the assault reportedly shows Meighan drunkenly striking Ager and dragging her by the ankles into her back garden. According to the prosecutor in this case, Naeem Valli, this attack was witnessed by a child, who called emergency services in a “panicked and afraid” tone.
The district judge Nick Watson reportedly told Meighan “I could have sent you to prison,” for what was described as a “sustained attack,” which served as a “violation of the trust and security that should exist between partners.” He also explained that Ager did not make a statement to police or “appear to support this prosecution,” however, police had been called their address before and there was “evidence of previous abusive behavior.”
Meighan’s previously clean history and charity work may have provided a reason for his community service sentencing. He also explained that the performer recognized he had an issue with alcohol consumption, which comes after the announcement that Meighan was working on “personal issues.”
“I need to take account of the fact that not only did you hurt Ms Ager, you also let down many people – band members and those who love your music,” Watson stated. “They will be shocked about what you did that night. I have been told that you have recognised that you have a problem with alcohol.”
Photo Credit: Raymond Flotat
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