A PROPERTY developer who threw a glass of wine in his wife's face has been given an absolute discharge by a judge at Worcester Crown Court.

Duncan Brown, aged 32, of Harbours Hill, Wildmoor, Bromsgrove, pleaded guilty to common assault.

Supporters in the public gallery applauded the sentence by Judge Michael Mott. But he told them: "Be quiet, this is not a theatre."

The incident happened in December last year during the couple's stormy marriage, said Tim Sapwell, prosecuting.

Brown objected to his wife Lucy helping to decorate a friend's house. They also had a row over six-year-old son Jack's thank-you letters to relatives.

During the dispute, the victim slappped her husband's face and he taunted her back, said Mr Sapwell.

She drove off to the friend's house but when she returned home went into their bathroom.

Brown, a former estate agent with no police record, kicked the door open and threw the wine at her after she hit him in the face.

Mrs Elizabeth Norman, defending, said the couple were no longer together.

Judge Mott said he did not know why two adults had got so bitter, violent and angry in the presence of a child.

He commended the police officer who interviewed the boy for "hitting the right note" and getting illuminating evidence from him.