Ex-Tory MP’s daughter was punched in the face by her husband in front of their child, court hears
THE DAUGHTER of former Tory MP David Faber was punched in the face by her husband in front of their young child, a court heard yesterday.
Keen horsewoman and estate agent Lara Faber-Johnson repeatedly told her husband, John Brennan, not to enter their bedroom after he returned to the family home drunk in the early hours of June 1 this year, it was said.
Brennan, who allegedly had a history of attacking his wife, ignored her and punched her on her right cheekbone with the fist of his right hand, Prosecutor Laura Thomas told Swindon Magistrates Court.
Miss Thomas said Brennan, 40, called his wife a “s**g”, “whore” and “cheat” before assaulting her at the family home in Marlborough, Wilts.
Outlining the “brief facts” of the prosecution case, Miss Thomas told the court the couple began their relationship in 2021 and married the following year. They shared “a young child”, she added.
She said Brennan, now living at the famous horse training centre at Kingswood House Stables in Lambourn, Berks, had allegedly been violent towards his wife in the past, but no charges had ever been brought.
On the night of the alleged attack this year, Brennan initially complied with her request for him not to enter the couple’s bedroom, then went in, “called her a slag, whore and cheat, then punched the complainant on her right cheekbone with his right hand while their young child was present”, Miss Thomas said.
How you can get help
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
Women’s Aid provides a live chat service – available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
She added: “Since this incident, she has begun divorce proceedings.”
Brennan, who denies a charge of assaulting his wife by beating, will stand trial for the alleged offence at the same court on July 4 next year.
He was given bail on the condition he does not attempt to contact his now-estranged wife.
Miss Faber-Johnson’s father, Eton-educated Mr Faber, is the grandson of former Conservative Prime Minister Harold Macmillan and himself represented the Westbury constituency as Tory MP between 1992 and 2001, when he quit politics and later became headmaster at his former prep school, Summer Fields in Oxford.