A THUG beat his wife while she was holding their child before screaming at arrest 'in my country they would chop her head off' after accusing her of cheating.

Drunk Ahmed Algibani, of Thames Street, Oxford, was labelled a 'bully' for the 'utterly deplorable' attack by crown court Judge Maria Lamb at his sentencing hearing yesterday.

The 40-year old, who is a UK national, was spared jailed at Oxford Crown Court after pleading guilty to one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Detailing the brutal assault at the court prosecutor John Waller said that Algibani had downed three quarters of a bottle of brandy ahead of the violence on the night of October 3 last year.

Algibani, the court heard, was home with his wife and two children when she had asked him to stop drinking at about 7.30pm, before leaving for the bedroom to lie down.

While she was resting Algibani took his two children and went outside before, heavily intoxicated with drink, he got into a row with a neighbour.

Disturbed by the shouting the woman went out and tried to get her husband to come back inside the house.

Instead, he told her to go away and flew into a rage, and while she was holding their 15-month old child he struck her hard to the side of her head.

The police arrived and Mr Waller said of what happened next: "He was arrested at the scene, found to be intoxicated, holding a bottle of whiskey.

"He was aggressive and suggested his wife was having an affair and in his country they would chop her head off."

After the attack Algibani's victim suffered a perforated ear drum and was left temporarily deaf in one ear.

Despite originally denying the assault and with a trial date set for February he had a change of heart and pleaded guilty at the court yesterday.

In mitigation at the hearing Claire Fraser said that in a statement Algibani's victim, and partner of some six years, said that she wanted her husband to get treatment for his drinking.

Ms Fraser said: "Since 2015 his behaviour deteriorated, she wants him to be the person he used to be.

"The core of the problem seems to be alcohol, he is a drinker, he has not controlled it."

Sentencing, Judge Maria Lamb said: "Your problems are all of your own making.

"You harmed your wife in the presence of your own children. You are a bully, your behaviour was obnoxious when you were arrested.

"Your behaviour was utterly deplorable. It is quite clear to me that it should decided on by a prison sentence. It is about time you started taking some responsibility for your problems."

Algibani was jailed for 10 months, suspended for two years, and made subject to a community order to include 15 days rehabilitation activity requirement and participation in the building better relationships programme.