A HUSBAND'S attempt to save his marriage ended with a fight during which he assaulted his estranged wife.

David Mitchell had invited Patricia Mitchell to his new home in Kempsey, near Worcester, on Tuesday, July 15, in a bid to rekindle their marriage.

The couple had been married for two years and had lived in Nottingham, before Mitchell moved to Worcestershire.

"They had spent some time together and had been drinking before they went to a local pub where Mr Mitchell consumed a further four or five pints," said Suzanne Llewellyn, prosecuting.

"When they returned home an argument broke out. Mr Mitchell believed she was having an affair in Nottingham."

Mrs Mitchell had been sat on a stool in the kitchen when Mitchell picked her up and put her down causing her to fall on steps

She cut her right elbow and spraining her right ankle.

At a previous hearing at Worcester Magistrates Court on Wednesday, July 30, Mitchell admitted assault by beating.

Joe Keiran, defending, said Mrs Mitchell had been intoxicated too, which had been the main cause of the fall.

"This was not a gratuitous or brutal act of violence," he said.

Mr Keiran said that since the incident Mitchell's life had "fallen apart" and he had now returned to Nottingham.

Mitchell, of Salterford Road, Hucknall, Nottingham, had a previous conviction for domestic violence.

Said John Moore, the chairman of the bench, yesterday: "The previous bench regarded custody as a real possibility, but we are not going to do that.

"This is the second offence of domestic violence. Let there not be another one."

Mitchell was sentenced to do 100 hours of community punishment and ordered to pay £200 in compensation to his wife together with costs of £120.