Wife swap man appeal fails

Two Kidderminster couples who went on holiday together ended up swapping partners, a court heard. But their relationships ended on a bitter note.

Taxi driver Nigel Crocker struck up a relationship with Tania Tandy while her husband Richard became involved with Susan Griffiths, Crocker's partner, the court heard yesterday.

The two men, who had been warned to steer clear of each other, met up at 6am on December 6, 2005, as Mr Tandy was taking Miss Griffiths from his house in Carlyle Avenue, Offmore Farm, to her home in Peel Street, Kidderminster.

They were followed by Crocker in his taxi and there were heated words between the men as Miss Griffiths went into her house, said Mr Julian Harris, prosecuting.

Mr Tandy alleged Crocker rubbed his hand in his face, causing a burn on his top lip as he was smoking a cigarette.

Crocker, aged 42, of Aggborough Crescent, Kidderminster, was charged with common assault and was fined £75 with £75 compensation by Kidderminster magistrates.

He appealed against conviction and sentence but Worcester Crown Court yesterday dismissed the case and he was ordered to pay £285 costs.

Crocker told the court he had lived with Miss Griffiths for 20 years and was concerned to settle the ownership of their house, which they had bought jointly. He had since bought her out.

Mr Tandy said he blamed Crocker for ending his marriage. But he admitted that he was sensitive when Crocker taunted him about £60,000 debts.

Crocker, who recently had a serious throat operation, told police: "I never laid a finger on him."