A COTSWOLD jeweller assaulted and strangled his wife after she challenged him about whether he was paying for prostitutes and escorts, a court heard.

Patrick Hill, 54, had been drinking heavily at home near Bourton on the Water on August 5 before he showed his wife Louise details of payments made from his bank account to two named people for £400 and £600, Gloucester Crown Court heard.

He claimed he did not know what the payments were - and then went to a cupboard, pulled out a luggage bag and told her 'I will probably sleep with a prostitute tonight.'

"She was upset about this," said prosecutor Nadeem Aullybocus. "She held him against a bookcase and she asked if messages she had previously found on his mobile phone from women were from escorts and prostitutes.

"She was already aware he had been sending messages to women as well as payments to them. Whenever she had raised it he would tell her she was making it up.

"She admits slapping him once or twice with the palm of her hand during this confrontation. He then said 'You ask too many questions.'"

Mr Aullybocus said Hill followed her and she became fearful and crouched on the floor in the corner of the kitchen.

Hill pushed her against a cupboard and punched her several times with his right hand, said the prosecutor.

"He put his hand around her neck and squeezed so tight she could hardly breathe.

"He started punching her again. He wouldn't stop. She thought she was going to die.

"He kicked her to the left ribcage, pushed her down and punched her in the face again.

"He then took a Japanese cook's knife with a 7-8" blade from the kitchen and he told her to ring someone called Mark who he said would tell her what was going on."

Mr Aullybocus said Hill then left the house. Mrs Hill started to mop up the floor and found clumps of her own hair which she realised he must have pulled out during the assault.

Hill returned to the house and she told him about the hair she had found, said the barrister.

He told her "You pushed me too far this time. I'm going to take this knife and kill myself."

Mrs Hill saw him drive away and she went to a neighbour's house and told her what had happened. The neighbour called the police and photographed Mrs Hill's injuries.

She had bruising and swelling to the left side of her face and jaw, a cut to her lip, another cut on her right hand, red finger marks around her neck from the strangling. Her rib cage was very sore, said Mr Aullybocus.

Police found Hill later that night carrying a lock knife in Cheltenham.

He gave a breath sample of 73mcgs of alcohol - more than twice the legal driving limit.

When interviewed, he admitted his wife had pushed him multiple times and he had retaliated. He said 'I definitely went too far.'

He said he had 'seen the red mist.'

Mr Aullybocus said: "It was a prolonged and persistent assault and provocation is no mitigation."

Steve Young, defending, said although Hill's behaviour that night had been 'appalling and sustained' it was out of character and his wife was prepared to forgive him and to continue their relationship.

Mrs Hill was called into the witness box and confirmed to Judge Ian Lawrie KC she wished to reconcile with her husband.

She said: "This was the worst stupid mistake. He is a very supportive husband and he is very kind. I know why it happened, it was alcohol. It was a whole range of things and I didn't help...."

The judge said "Do not blame yourself."

Mr Young referred the judge to references written in support of Hill.

The solicitor went on to say Hill had been particularly stressed at that time with his business hitting financial difficulties. Ultimately he sold the business but still works for it as an employee of the new owner and is paid £2,500 a month.

"Generally, as his wife has told you, he is a good husband and very supportive.

"In every other respect, he is a very valued member of his community."

Hill admitted assaulting his wife causing actual bodily harm, intentional strangulation of her, possessing a knife in public and driving with excess alcohol on his breath.

Judge Lawrie told him that normally for such offences he would be locked up as his behaviour had been 'inexcusable.'

"This was your wife and you tried to strangle her. It was a very dangerous thing to do," said the judge. Your partner has come here to speak for you and you are considerably in her debt. In future you should show her sobriety and respect."

The judge sentenced Hill to a two year community order with programme and activity requirements, banned him from driving for 18 months and fined him £750.