BBC Bargain Hunt star Charles Hanson has been unanimously cleared at Derby Crown Court of coercive control and assault allegations relating to his wife Rebecca Hanson.
The jury in the trial of the TV auction show expert retired yesterday to consider its verdict and were told they were under no pressure of time when they were sent out to begin their deliberations.
Judge Martin Hurst told the panel of seven women and five men, who have sat for the last three weeks through the trial to hear all the evidence, that if they need more time after Friday’s deliberations, the case could sit into next week.
The trial and jury heard allegations that Hanson put his wife in a headlock while she was pregnant with their baby she later lost, repeatedly “grabbed” her, locked her in a hotel room, pushed her, and scratched her as she tried to snatch a mobile phone.
He told the court he was “almost a slave” to his wife, who left him “a beaten and broken man” by controlling him.
During the trial, claims were made that there were WhatsApp messages sent by Hanson to his wife, who is now 41, amounting to a “set of confessions” to the charges.
Charles Hanson was seen beaming when leaving the court
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When receiving the verdict this afternoon, it was reported that Hanson could be seen smiling at his parents and giving them a thumbs-up gesture from the dock.
The celebrity auctioneer's parents, who were sitting in the front row of the public gallery, cried and hugged their son after he was discharged from the dock.
Judge Hurst thanked the jurors for their time and care when considering the case before turning to Hanson and noting: "You have been found not guilty. That is the end of the case. You will hear no more about it and you are free to go."
Some messages read by prosecutor Stephen Kemp revealed Hanson's attempts to save his marriage on multiple occasions after his "abusive" behaviour.
Charles Hanson's parents were also thrilled by the outcome
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On June 5, 2024, Hanson wrote to his wife: "I promise now I will never ever lay a finger on you ... ever again. Let's just give it a go, we have been through a lot in 13 years."
In his closing speech to jurors on Wednesday, Crown counsel Stephen Kemp said the messages, including one in which Hanson promised to never again "lay a finger" on his wife, provide a clear picture of the couple’s relationship.
Throughout the trial, Hanson denied being controlling or engaging in coercive behaviour, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and assault by beating, charges brought after he was arrested in June 2023.
Jurors were also shown a letter in which Hanson referred to a "double push", said the "short jolt" was "to get her attention away from TikTok" and said he deeply regretted the incident.
"A double push sounds like more than it was. It was a double tap - there was no more in it than that. I did not push my wife in the strictest sense. I tapped her shoulder to get her attention in the first instance about bad language."
During the time of the allegations, an insider told MailOnline that Hanson was not scheduled to appear in the imminent future on the channel and was not a BBC employee.
The star is best known for his time on Bargain Hunt
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After the allegations first emerged, Hanson said: "I deny all the charges. I have never behaved aggressively or unlawfully towards my family.
"We have been through some difficult times in our marriage and it is extremely sad that this has become a criminal matter. I will be cooperating fully with the investigation and legal process."
