A 'controlling' husband attacked his own wife, spent her money on drugs and told her she would have to go back to Pakistan.

Naveed Hussain was not sent to jail - but only because he had spent the equivalent of close to a 20 month prison sentence while waiting to learn his fate.

The 29-year-old admitted controlling and coercive behaviour between April 1 last year and January 22 this year and assault occasioning actual bodily harm on January 22 this year.

His wife now no longer wants to see him and an indefinite restraining order was made preventing him having contact with her directly or indirectly. Hussain's behaviour included taking her house keys and mobile phone, making threats to her family in Pakistan and telling her she would have to return to Pakistan.

Raj Punia, prosecuting, said it was the victim's manager who called police when she arrived at Worcestershire Royal Hospital with 'minor but visible physical injuries'. She explained how the couple had planned a trip to Birmingham when he changed his mind and told his wife he was going to visit his ex-partner elsewhere instead.

"He asked for her house keys and told her she was not allowed to leave the house, picked up her bank card and phone off the bed and said she would be staying in the house" said Ms Punia.

The assault involved him slapping her to the back of the head, pulling her hair and grabbing her by her left shoulder and pushing her against the door, causing the door to break.

She reported injuries to her neck and shoulder. The victim also described how he sent her out of the house and demanded her house keys.

"She refused, saying she paid the rent. He grabbed her and pushed her out of the door" said the prosecutor.

Ms Punia said the defendant left the key in the lock and later climbed out of a window because he knew she did not have a key.

"She was saying he made threats to harm her family back in Pakistan if she did not do as she was told, took her money and spent it" she said.

Other assaults were also disclosed - including that he squeezed her neck with both hands when she questioned him about his relationship with a previous partner.

On another occasion the victim described an argument being witnessed by a passer-by who asked her if she was alright. The victim also described how he would 'spend her money on drugs or on his own children from his previous relationship'.

When arrested Hussain, of Teme Road, Worcester, initially denied that he had assaulted her in any way, stated he had never hit her and had never gone through her phone.

The defendant had 11 convictions for 22 offences, including offences of assault and criminal damage against pervious partners.

Recorder Martin Butterworth made a community order for 30 months and ordered Hussain to complete an accredited programme of building better relationships (30 sessions). He was told he had to complete 100 hours of unpaid work. A restraining order of indefinite length was also made which prevents him having contact, directly or indirectly, with the victim.

Because of the defendant's history of domestic violence against previous partners, the Worcester News requested a custody photo of Hussain on the grounds it was in the public interest to protect any potential future partners. However, West Mercia Police declined the request on the grounds that their policy for releasing custody images requires a defendant to be given at least a year’s custodial sentence.