A cheated-on husband who tolerated his wife’s “multiple affairs” eventually snapped and punched her rugby-playing new lover, a court heard.
David Lukey, an aerospace engineer, became enraged when he returned to the family home to find his wife Andrea half-naked and traces of another man in the house.
The 46-year-old went looking for him and when he found Christopher Andrews in the kitchen, he punched him in the mouth, splitting his lip.
He then smashed two TVs and family photos before trying to drag his estranged wife from the property, accidentally ripping off her top.
Police were called to the suburban address in Blandford, Dorset, and arrested Lukey for assault and causing criminal damage.
David Lukey and his estranged wife Andrea Lukey. Lukey returned to his family home in Blandford, Dorset, to find his wife Andrea Lukey half-dressed and her lover, Christopher Andrews, in the kitchen.
Christopher Stevens, Mrs Lukey’s rugby player lover. Lukey punched Mr Stevens so hard he split his lip. Mr Andrews would not comment on the matter, saying it was ‘not worth it’
Lukey with Mrs. Lukey. Ms Lukey, who is originally from the Czech Republic, said: ‘This has been very difficult all along. I’m afraid of the person who once meant a lot to me. I left my whole life in Prague for David’
Lukey has avoided a prison sentence after admitting charges of assaulting Mr Andrews and Ms Lukey and criminal damage. He also said he responded to his wife’s “multiple affairs” “under extreme provocation.”
Poole Magistrate Court heard the couple had been married for 10 years, but prosecutor Jason Spelman said Ms Lukey claimed the relationship had ‘struggled’ in recent years.
Mr Spelman said Lukey and his wife had separated six weeks earlier and Mrs Lukey now considered herself single.
The couple agreed that he could return home to see his children and do laundry. On the morning of September 20, 2023, he arrived to find someone else’s car in the driveway.
Mr Spelman said: ‘His wife appeared to be wearing minimal clothing and he described feeling frantic knowing there was another man in the house.
‘He said they had agreed that she could live in the house and that he would pay the mortgage, provided there were no men in the family home.’
In her police statement, Ms Lukey said: ‘Chris did not retaliate, he kept trying to tell David to calm down. David yelled at us to get out of the house. I felt very threatened.
‘He smashed the television screens, smashed pictures on the bedside table and the door under the stairs.
‘Then he tried to remove me from the house by force by my arm. He ripped my top and took it off, leaving me topless. Once again Chris tried to get him to stop, and moments later the police arrived.
‘I wasn’t physically hurt, but I was very scared of David. I saw Chris had blood on his lip.’
Ms Lukey, who is originally from the Czech Republic, said: ‘This has been very difficult all along. I’m afraid of the person who once meant everything to me. I left my whole life in Prague for David.’
Lukey (pictured) avoided jail but has been given a 12-month community order, must carry out 100 hours of unpaid work, complete 30 rehabilitation days, pay £500 compensation for damage and £199 costs and victim surcharge
Jason Spelman, prosecuting, said Lukey and his wife had separated six weeks earlier and Mrs Lukey now considered herself single
Mrs Lukey said she had to quit her job because her ex was ‘lurking’ and she now hoped to get her and her children’s lives back on track
Poole Magistrate Court heard the couple had been married for ten years, but prosecutor Jason Spelman said Mrs Lukey claimed the relationship had ‘struggled’ in recent years and that they had been separated for six weeks and that Mrs Lukey considered herself single ( stock image)
She also said she had to quit her job because her ex was “lurking” and she now hoped to get her and her children’s lives back on track.
Lukey told the court: “I have lived in hell for 14 months leading up to this. My wife had multiple affairs, a lot of things happened and it resulted in me losing everything: my children, my wife, my house, my pets.
‘I have had to pick myself up again, I have stopped drinking completely, I spend as much time as possible with my children and friends, I go for walks in nature, which has benefited my mental health.
‘I feel like I have suffered and been punished more than enough. For 46 years, I have been an asset to every community I have been a part of. I hold myself to a high standard and have once slipped below that standard under extreme provocation.”
He avoided jail but was given a 12-month community order ordering him to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work, complete 30 rehabilitation days, pay £500 compensation for damage and £199 costs and victim surcharge.
Lukey was also given a restraining order not to contact Ms Lukey or visit his former home.
Mr Andrews would not comment on the matter, saying it was ‘not worth it’.