War widow spared jail after ‘relentless’ alcohol-fueled attack on new partner

A war widow who drunkenly attacked and bit her second husband during a row at their £1.3 million Devon home has been handed a suspended jail sentence.

Christina Plumb, 49, was found guilty of assaulting her property developer husband Adam and his 18-year-old daughter during a gin-fuelled incident at their eight-bedroom house in Ugborough last September.

Plumb became known to the public after campaigning for families of those killed in military service following the death of her first husband, army bomb disposal expert Sgt Olaf Schmid, who died while trying to defuse an IED device in 2009.

Plymouth Magistrates’ Court heard how she kicked, scratched and bit Adam during the assault, whilst also aiming a punch at his daughter.

The court heard that the assault began after the couple had gone to bed, with Adam stating his wife had consumed most of a bottle of gin that evening.

She began kicking him while he attempted to sleep, then followed him out of the bedroom when he tried to leave.

Mobile phone footage captured Plumb in her nightdress screaming at Adam during a confrontation in the bedroom, with the situation escalating until she bit him on the back.

Adam became trapped in a walk-in dressing room as she blocked his path. “When I went to leave she bit me in the middle of the back,” he told the court.

Police were called to the scene and arrested Plumb following the incident.

The court was shown photographic evidence of the wound inflicted on Adam’s back.

On Monday, District Judge Stuart Smith handed Plumb a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

She was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and observe a 60-day alcohol abstinence ruling.

The sentence also includes attending 20 rehabilitation days and adhering to a two-year restraining order.

Plumb must pay £1,064 in costs, including £150 compensation to Adam and £100 to his daughter.

During sentencing, the judge told Plumb: “These are significant offences. You are a manipulative individual. You were aggressor throughout this incident.”

The judge warned her against making any contact with the victims or posting anything online, stating this could result in further criminal charges.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, Adam Plumb revealed the devastating effects of the assault, stating: “She has completely destroyed my life.”

He described being treated as if he were the abuser and explained how false allegations led to his displacement: “I was homeless and sleeping in my car.”

The judge criticised Plumb’s conduct following the incident, noting she had caused psychological harm and sleepless nights to both Adam and his daughter Ellie.

The court heard how Plumb had engaged in a “relentless spreading of lies online” in what the judge termed a “smear campaign.”

This behaviour continued even during the trial and after her conviction for the assaults.

The judge dismissed Plumb’s version of events, stating: “I did not find your evidence credible. I find you have falsely made out Mr Plumb to be the aggressor whilst all the time it was you.”