A HUSBAND ended up in court with a £1,000 bill after he and his wife threw juice over each other during a heated domestic argument.

Marcus Insall also elbowed his wife in the chest and put his hands to her throat - although it was made clear by his solicitor he did not try to 'strangle' her.

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The 47-year-old of Avon Road, Tolladine, Worcester, admitted assault by beating during the incident on July 21 when he appeared before magistrates in Worcester on Thursday.

The incident has left him with a bill for £1,104 - and it would have been higher but magistrates decided not to award compensation to the man's wife because it would only make things worse while they patch things up.

Worcester News: CASE: Worcester Magistrates Court CASE: Worcester Magistrates Court

His wife had issued a retraction statement but the prosecution still went ahead.

Eleanor Peart, prosecuting, said the couple had been married for 17 years and that his wife issued a retraction despite accepting what was said in her original statement was 'true and accurate'.

Miss Peart described it as a verbal argument which escalated to 'a face-to-face confrontation', the defendant striking her with his left elbow to the chest.

During the incident Insall was heard to say "I'm going to smash you" said Miss Peart.

He was also said to have put his hand on her neck and threw the glass of squash over her.

Her 20-year-old son was also present for some of the incident.

"He asked the defendant to leave his mum alone. He said the defendant was extremely aggressive and intimidating" said Miss Peart.

In interview, Insall said he raised his elbow to defend himself and 'they both threw squash over each other'.

Jo Outhwaite, defending, said Insall, a self-employed floorer, had entered a guilty plea.

She told the bench his wife had found some text messages on his phone from his female boss.

"She had taken umbrage to this," said Mrs Outhwaite.

What followed, she said, was a 'tussle on the stairs'. 

"She had a glass of squash. He had a glass of squash. His elbow has flown back. He could not recall whether it connected with her chest or not," she said. 

She added: "There was no suggestion he was strangling or applying that level of pressure. They went up into the bedroom. He has thrown juice at her. She has thrown juice at him."

Magistrates fined him £692, and ordered him to pay a £277 victim surcharge and costs of £135.