A man who punched his wife in the face during an argument at their Market Bosworth home has been warned he came close to being sent to prison.

Stuart Martin Chaplain was given six-months custody, suspended for two years, at Hinckley court last Friday and told by presiding magistrate Rosemary Ball: “Be under no illusion that custody will be the next stop.”

Twenty-four-year-old Chaplain, of The Leecrofts, Earl Shilton, appeared for sentence after admitting assaulting Natasha Chaplain, causing actual bodily harm, on December 6 last year.

Prosecutor Cheng Yeak said the victim described Chaplain as “a recovering alcoholic.”

Ms Yeak said he “kept losing his temper” but stayed at home while his wife went with others on a pre-Christmas trip to see Santa.

He argued when they returned and he again argued the following morning when his wife got up late. “He kept saying she was a control freak,” said Mrs Yeak.”

Later, after Chaplain had been to bed, he “started again”.

When his wife was in a reclining chair, Chaplain “Suddenly leaned forward and punched her with a clenched fist to the left side of her face”.

In a statement, Natasha Chaplain said she dialled 999 but her husband grabbed the phone off her.

“He pushed me into the settee. To try and stop me shouting, he leaned over and bit me to the left side of my face.”

Natasha Chaplain had bruising, swelling and bite marks to her face. A neighbour who heard her cries for help called the police.

Chaplain’s crying wife was so distressed and “totally shocked” that she could not at first talk to police.

Solicitor Kelly Dixon, mitigating, said Chaplain acknowledged the “unpleasant incident” caused his wife emotional and physical harm but he regretted it and was remorseful.

He had no previous offences for using violence and was attending Alcoholics Anonymous voluntarily, added Miss Dixon.

In addition to the suspended prison sentence, magistrates gave Chaplain 24 months supervision and told him to attend an integrated domestic abuse programme (IDAP).

“This was a very vicious attack. It caused injury and there was a child present – and it warrants immediate custody,” said Mrs Ball.

“The reason for the suspended sentence is so that you can attend the IDAP programme and supervision.

“No compensation is being awarded because we understand you are likely to be reunited with your partner,” added Mrs Ball.