A SENIOR figure in repatriation ceremonies has said a diabetic “rage” led him to assault his wife.

Steve Radband admitted two counts of assault by beating against his wife Sarah.

But he said “dangerously” low blood sugar levels had caused the attacks, which happened at their Bampton family home on September 14 and 15.

He has decided to step down from his role as the Royal British Legion’s repatriation family liaison officer until after his sentencing on October 14.

Lorry driver Mr Radband, who is currently staying in Stanton Harcourt, admitted the charges at Banbury Magistrates’ Court on September 23.

The 49-year-old said: “I was taken ill because my sugar levels dropped to a dangerous level, which makes you aggressive.

“Blood sugar levels should be six or seven but mine was 1.5, which is not far off being in a diabetic coma.

“I have suffered from diabetes for several years but have always had high sugar levels, not low sugar levels.”

He added: “I had not been very well all week and I had been trying to get a doctor’s appointment, but the earliest they would give me was for the Friday.

“On the Thursday afternoon I was at home doing some work and I do not know why – I have not got a clue why – I just went into a rage and basically grabbed my wife and ripped her clothes where she had tried to stop me doing whatever I was doing.”

Mr Radband, who is also a parish councillor for Bampton, said he drove off in his car and, when he returned home, was arrested by the police. He said his youngest daughter, 21, had called officers.

He added: “She was frightened. She did not know what was happening and she had not seen me like that before.

“But I did not know where I was – my daughter said I could not even speak properly. Apparently this is what happens when you go into a diabetic hypo.”

Mr Radband said he could not remember what had happened the day before, on September 14, and had since changed his medication.

He was released on bail on condition he did not contact his wife or go within 200m of the family home.

He added: “Of course I regret what happened. I cannot be at home, where my wife and children want me.”

And he said he would now take a “back seat” role at repatriation ceremonies until the court case had finished.

Speaking from her home in Bampton, Mrs Radband said: “Part of me has forgiven him. Obviously we have got to go through the court case and get that over with, but Stephen’s going to come home when he has finished his bail conditions.

“There is always that thought that it could happen again but if we, as a family, control his diabetes there is no reason it should do.”

Mrs Radband said she sustained no injuries in the attacks, adding: “He certainly did not punch me, he certainly did not hit me. He has never done anything like this before.”

She said her husband had pushed her on September 14 and had torn her top on September 15.

Mrs Radband said it was the Crown Prosecution Service and not her that had pressed charges against her husband.

Royal British Legion Oxfordshire chairman Mike Henderson said: “He made the decision to stand down because he did not want to jeopardise repatriations.”

Mr Henderson said Mr Radband’s decision was “a loss” to future ceremonies and said he had not yet given any thought to who could replace him.

Doctors have found low blood sugar levels, or hypoglycaemia, can lead to irritability, mood swings and confusion. It has also been linked to aggression.