A HUSBAND has been banned from contacting his wife of nearly 14 years after he attacked her in her own home on Boxing Day.

Joiner Simon Manning, 52, threw a television remote control at his wife, which she managed to duck, but he continued the attack, pulled her glasses off her face and breaking them in a drunken rage on December 26, York magistrates heard.

Martin Butterworth, prosecuting said Manning refused to leave the house as she requested and fought with her adult son, but he eventually left after police arrived.

Manning, now of Eden Close, Woodthorpe, pleaded guilty to assault and criminal damage.

He was given a 12-month community order with 10 days’ rehabilitative activities, fined £333, ordered to pay £200 compensation to his wife, £85 prosecution costs and an £85 statutory surcharge.

He was also made subject to a two-year restraining order banning him from contacting his wife except through solicitors and banning him from going to the marital home.

His solicitor Cheryl Rudden said: “He says his head was all over the place.

"He doesn’t necessarily want to be a family again.

"It is not feasible, it is not in his plans.

“He has also spent a lot of money for an awfully large television which he may not be getting back.”

She denied that he had objected to leaving the house and said her son had landed a punch on him.

Mr Butterworth said the relationship had been “on-off” and Manning was a heavy drinker.

On Boxing Day morning, he had gone to the pub and returned home drunk, becoming abusive.

They had an argument over the television remote controls and he threw one of the controls at her.

Ms Rudden said Manning liked to go out for a drink or two after work which she called “typical working class behaviour” and he had been with friends on Boxing Day.

According to the husband, the problems in the marriage had developed in the last two years.