A man who hit his wife over the head with a whiskey bottle, knocking her out, was spared an immediate prison sentence.

Andrew McLoughlin was told by Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC: “There are two sides to this matter,” after Bradford Crown Court heard of an alcohol-fulled row between the couple on December 16 last year.

McLoughlin, 38, of St Stephen’s Road, West Bowling, Bradford, admitted causing his now former wife, Elizabeth, actual bodily harm.

Prosecutor John Bull told the court that McLoughlin pleaded guilty on the day he was to stand trial.

McLoughlin and Mrs McLoughlin, 45, fell out after going out for a meal and coming home to drink more alcohol, Mr Bull said.

Mrs McLoughlin ran into the kitchen at the home they then shared in Buttershaw, Bradford.

When she tried to take a bottle of Jack Daniel’s whisky off her husband, he hit her over the head with it.

Police arrived at the house at 2.30am to find Mrs McLoughlin unconscious.

The court heard McLoughlin had a string of previous convictions, including for common assault on his wife.

McLoughlin was sentenced to nine months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, with supervision and a six-month alcohol treatment requirement.