A husband who was prone to violence has been sentenced to jail for mistreating his wife during their vacation in Benidorm. Andrew Stockman, aged 54, evicted his wife, Sandra, from their holiday accommodation for two days following an outburst in the popular tourist destination. The court learned that the Christmas trip last year was meant to be a much-needed break for the couple, who had been together since they were teenagers.
The altercation marked a breaking point for Sandra, who had endured a series of abusive incidents, as noted by the judge. Prosecutor Richard Edwards revealed that their marital issues escalated during their Christmas trip to Spain in 2024. Mrs. Stockman was caring for a friend who passed away during their stay. Despite informing Stockman about the friend’s illness, he prevented her from returning home to attend the funeral.
In distressing circumstances, Mrs. Stockman had to make arrangements for the funeral while facing Stockman’s appalling behavior. He forcibly expelled her from their place without her passport, leaving her stranded in Benidorm until she managed to sneak back to retrieve her passport for her journey home.
It was only after several days that Stockman inquired about her whereabouts. Upon his return, he acknowledged that their relationship was over. The court heard testimonies detailing physical abuse, including kicking, punching, and strangling, inflicted by Stockman on his wife over the years. The couple, who operated a bed and breakfast, are now undergoing a divorce after more than three decades of marriage.
Most of the abuse incidents occurred when Stockman was intoxicated, with physical violence occurring monthly. Although physical abuse seemed to decrease after they started the B&B, mental and verbal abuse persisted. In a victim impact statement, Mrs. Stockman described enduring a lifetime of torment at the hands of Stockman, realizing that his actions were about control rather than love for her and their children.
She expressed feeling robbed of a normal adult life by Stockman’s manipulation and abuse. Stockman, from Llay, North Wales, admitted to coercive and controlling behavior. Judge Timothy Petts sentenced him to three years and five months in prison, highlighting the frequent physical assaults, verbal abuse, and threats made by Stockman throughout their relationship.
