Durham police chief Fred Elrick ‘beat wife in drunken row’

Jun 4 2009 by Neil McKay, The Journal

A JURY is to retire today to decide whether a senior Northumbria Police officer beat up his wife following a drink-fuelled row over his affair.

Chief Inspector Fred Elrick is appearing at Durham Crown Court accused of assaulting his now ex-wife Pauline at their then family home in Hillside Gardens, Tunstall, Sunderland, on June 18, 2006.

Elrick, 48, who has been a police officer for 27 years, claimed he was acting in self defence by fending off his ex-wife’s blows when she fell back and hit her head against a fireplace, injuring her cheekbone.

He denies a charge of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Giving evidence, Elrick said his marriage was in trouble after his wife caught having an affair with a woman called Lorraine Jewell while he was chief inspector at Newcastle Area Command.

He told the court he had broken off the relationship with Mrs Jewell, and had tried to “keep my marriage together”.

He explained that he and Mrs Jewell, who was in the public gallery at Durham Crown Court supporting him, were again in a relationship, but only after his marriage of 27 years had ended.

But he claimed Pauline had begun drinking heavily after discovering his affair.