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| Lord Edward Somerset admits beating wife Caroline | Lord Edward Somerset admits beating wife Caroline |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A member of an English aristocratic family who beat his wife over 22 years has been warned he could be jailed. | A member of an English aristocratic family who beat his wife over 22 years has been warned he could be jailed. |
| Lord Edward Somerset, 55, admitted four counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm against his wife, Caroline, between 1990 and 2012. | Lord Edward Somerset, 55, admitted four counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm against his wife, Caroline, between 1990 and 2012. |
| The attacks, including scratching and hair-pulling, happened at their home on the Badminton Estate, Gloucestershire. | The attacks, including scratching and hair-pulling, happened at their home on the Badminton Estate, Gloucestershire. |
| Bristol Crown Court heard Somerset was often on drugs or drunk. He is due to be sentenced on 6 February. | Bristol Crown Court heard Somerset was often on drugs or drunk. He is due to be sentenced on 6 February. |
| Judge Mark Horton warned Somerset the offences were "so serious a prison sentence could be imposed". | Judge Mark Horton warned Somerset the offences were "so serious a prison sentence could be imposed". |
| The judge said he was also considering whether a restraining order to protect Caroline from her estranged husband should be enforced. | |
| 'Very emotional' | 'Very emotional' |
| The aristocrat, who was referred to in court simply as Edward Somerset but is the son of the Duke of Beaufort, admitted giving his wife a "deliberate and hard" kick at Essex House on the Badminton Estate between 1 January 2011 and 29 November 2011. | The aristocrat, who was referred to in court simply as Edward Somerset but is the son of the Duke of Beaufort, admitted giving his wife a "deliberate and hard" kick at Essex House on the Badminton Estate between 1 January 2011 and 29 November 2011. |
| Somerset pleaded guilty to two further assaults, which caused bruising to his wife, on 5 October and 6 October 2012. | Somerset pleaded guilty to two further assaults, which caused bruising to his wife, on 5 October and 6 October 2012. |
| He also admitted assaulting her between 1 January 1990 and 31 December 2011, bruising her, scratching her and pulling her hair. | He also admitted assaulting her between 1 January 1990 and 31 December 2011, bruising her, scratching her and pulling her hair. |
| The court heard his guilty plea for that charge, covering a period of 21 years, represented "incidents of violence between the two, often in drink or drugs or both". | The court heard his guilty plea for that charge, covering a period of 21 years, represented "incidents of violence between the two, often in drink or drugs or both". |
| Prosecuting, Eleanor Laws QC said Somerset's wife was still scared of him and was seeking a restraining order. | Prosecuting, Eleanor Laws QC said Somerset's wife was still scared of him and was seeking a restraining order. |
| "She would say she still has fears of this defendant because of his offending and she is in a very emotional state," said the barrister. | "She would say she still has fears of this defendant because of his offending and she is in a very emotional state," said the barrister. |
| Representing Somerset, William Clegg QC said his client would not oppose a restraining order. | Representing Somerset, William Clegg QC said his client would not oppose a restraining order. |
| The court was also told divorce proceedings between the couple, who have two children, were set to be finalised soon. | The court was also told divorce proceedings between the couple, who have two children, were set to be finalised soon. |