Judge sentences husband to buy wife flowers, take her out to dinner

A judge ruled in a domestic violence case that a bickering couple must make nice, and the husband should take his wife out to dinner at Red Lobster

Couple were also ordered to see a marriage counselor in domestic violence case

Forget prison, parole or probation: A Florida man was sentenced to buy his wife flowers, take her to Red Lobster and then out for a night of bowling.

Joseph Bray, 47, received the unusual sentence after his arrest for domestic violence in an argument that started when he forgot his wife’s birthday, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

Judge John Hurley also ordered Bray and his wife to undergo marriage counseling.

The light sentence came after Bray’s wife confirmed to the judge that she was not injured in the dispute and that she didn’t fear a repeat.

Bray had no prior arrests, and never hit his wife during the scuffle that started after he made no acknowledgment of his spouse’s birthday Monday.

He’s going to stop by somewhere and he’s going to get some flowers,” Hurley said in court. “And then he’s going to go home, pick up his wife, get dressed, take her to Red Lobster.

And then after they have Red Lobster, they’re going to go bowling.”

The dinner and entertainment portions of the sentence came after Hurley asked Bray’s wife about her favorite pastimes and places to dine.

Hurley said the light sentence was appropriate under the circumstances of the case. He did order the marriage counseling to begin within a week.