Derby Bargain Hunt star Charles Hanson claims he was 'almost a slave' to wife, as domestic violence trial continues

The star of Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip has told a court he was “almost a slave” to his wife. Giving evidence, the TV auctioneer also said he was “a coward” and “subservient under her”.

The 46-year-old told Derby Crown Court his wife Rebecca Hanson was allowed “to do what she wanted” but would not let him watch TV in bed, as well as falsely accused him of having athlete’s foot. He is accused of using violence towards Mrs Hanson over a 10-year period, including pushing, scratching and grabbing her.

Hanson, of Ashbourne Road in Mackworth, Derby, denies controlling or coercive behaviour, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and assault by beating. He was arrested in June 2023.

He gave evidence for the second day on Monday. Hanson denied trying to portray his wife as mentally ill – his version of events is that she experienced “moments and episodes” including an incident in which she claimed his legs being crossed amounted to abuse.

Under cross-examination from prosecutor Stephen Kemp on Monday, Hanson told jurors he had a stammer as a young boy and that he is “actually a very nervous man” whose “façade” suggests more confidence than he has in reality.

Questioned as to why he sent messages to his wife, including one conceding he had a bad temper, Hanson claimed he had “literally tapped every word she wanted to hear” about “lost temper, anger management and ‘completely my fault'”.

Asserting that the messages were “not the truth” but instead an attempt to tell his wife what she wanted to hear, Hanson told the court: “I was under the control of Rebecca. She completely ridiculed me, told me that I was rubbish every day. I just felt almost a slave to her and I had no option, Mr Kemp, but just almost in a way to adopt what she was saying and to appease her.

“And I tried it over and over. And I, in a way, was a coward. I was subservient under her – just controlled by her. It was my life and it was awful. My marriage was just falling apart and I would do almost anything to try and save it.

“I know it sounds awful but I was a beaten and broken man. Speaking here now, I think why didn’t I stand up. I just stayed because as a child my family’s belief was, you don’t get divorced in life.”

Hanson told the jury he wanted his wife to “feel the riches of life” in her own career. Pressed as to whether he was a man who liked to get his own way, Hanson told Mr Kemp he liked to get his own way when it came to building a business but would “always allow my wife to do what she wanted”.

Telling the court that his wife had claimed the way he was talking or having his legs crossed amounted to abuse, Hanson said: “I would say, love what are you talking about? I would never get my own way – I was never allowed to watch television in bed.”

Mrs Hanson, a trained radiographer, was described by the defendant as a wonderful actress with a Derby-based acting society, but also as someone who was “anxious over many things in life”. Invited to give his view as to whether his wife had ever been delusional, Hanson continued: “I think, Mr Kemp, to be honest with you, there has been moments and episodes.”

As well as accusing him of abuse, Hanson said his wife had turned away from him at night and said “just go to sleep”. “My wife would never, ever give me a hug goodnight. She would say most nights ‘you have got athlete’s foot, don’t come near me’. I have never had athlete’s foot,” Hanson added.

The court heard the auctioneer told police in interviews that his wife was a fantasist and had “mentally gone slightly awol”. He also wrote a letter to the dedicated officer for the investigation in August 2023, saying he had serious doubts about his wife’s reliability and credibility and “concerns as to her mental health”.

Hanson’s letter, the court heard, added: “Criminal proceedings involving cross-examination could be very harmful to her mental health. In the light of the above I kindly ask Derbyshire Police to cease their investigation.”

The trial continues.