A Chief Superintendent drunkenly rugby tackled his wife to the ground after she looked at his mobile phone amid concerns about his faithfulness, a court was told.

Karl Wilson, 49, of Northumbria Police, is on trial at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court where he denies two counts of assaulting his wife, Helen, and one of criminal damage to her dress, necklace and phone.

Michael Bunch, prosecuting, said the context was a “domestic incident” at the family home in Great Park, Newcastle, on October 28.

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He said Mrs Wilson had returned home to find her husband “intoxicated”.

She looked at her husband’s phone amid concerns about his “faithfulness”, Mr Bunch said, adding that she saw messages which suggested “her fears were genuine”.

Wilson became aware of what she was doing, the prosecution said.

“There was a struggle inside the address over the mobile phone,” Mr Bunch said.

“She ultimately ran from the address, pursued by the defendant who, on the path outside, rugby tackled her to the floor.”

Wilson knelt on her chest while trying to recover his phone, the court was told.

The Northern Echo: Wilson appeared at North Tyneside Magistrates Court in North Tyneside on Monday (May 15) morning. Wilson appeared at North Tyneside Magistrates Court in North Tyneside on Monday (May 15) morning. (Image: GOOGLE)

That lasted for around 15 seconds, the prosecution said, and after her husband loosened his grip, Mrs Wilson was able to get back in the house and see her dress had been torn and her necklace damaged.

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Back inside the property, the defendant took hold of her again, Mr Bunch said, and “put her to the floor” as they again struggled over his phone.

She rang the police and could be heard in a hoarse voice to say “domestic” before the call was terminated, the court was told.

A police operator called her back and “a series of screams” could be heard from Mrs Wilson, Mr Bunch said.

Wilson then grabbed the phone and threw it to the floor, causing criminal damage, District Judge Paul Currer was told.

Police arrived and while they attended, Wilson saw his wife was still holding a phone and made a bid to grab it, which represented the second of the two assault charges, the court heard.

Mrs Wilson suffered bruises to her left hand, forearm and right wrist, Mr Bunch said.

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Mr Bunch said 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”.

He was suspended form his role after the allegations emerged.

The prosecution said Mrs Wilson attended court but did not wish to give evidence – and they would not seek to compel her to.

The case was adjourned until later today (Monday, May 15) for legal argument to take place.