Former 'Britain's Best Dad' admits assaulting wife Published duration 11 April 2013

A man once crowned Britain's Best Dad has been given a conditional discharge for attacking his wife.

Keith Preddie threw a washing frame and a plastic step at Emma Preddie during a row about Christmas shopping, before pinning her to the floor.

Croydon magistrates ordered Preddie, 44, who admitted one count of assault, to pay £100 compensation to his wife.

The Michael Jackson impersonator, from Stanger Road, South Norwood, was named Britain's Best Dad by GMTV in 2010.

'It's no good crying'

Croydon Magistrates' Court heard the couple's 12-year-old daughter was woken by the violence, on 18 December last year.

Preddie cried throughout the 10-minute hearing at the south London court, at one point burying his face into his chest.

As he was given a conditional discharge he burst into tears once more.

District judge Alan Baldwin told him: "It's no good crying. You have got to face up to this.

"A man of your background should have known better."

The court heard Preddie had no previous convictions and had done voluntary work to help pensioners.

He was supported in court by numerous members of the public.

Judge Baldwin said: "I have read the references and you are clearly a man of positive good character who has done a lot of good things and continue to do so.

"You have shown a great deal of remorse and understanding of what took place and taken steps to deal with it.

"I consider it a momentary lapse in an otherwise unblemished life."

Describing the assault, prosecutor Nicholas Earl-Quarcoo said Preddie pinned his wife down on the sofa by both arms.

Mr Earl-Quarcoo said after learning police were on their way, Preddie "said he knew he had been in the wrong and would accept the consequences of his actions".