Company director Christopher Whiting put his home in his wife’s name when threatened with bankruptcy – then discovered she was having an affair.

He assaulted her, grabbed a fuel can from the garage and doused her in petrol after threatening to burn the house down.

On Tuesday, 64-year-old Whiting, from Littleworth near Faringdon, admitted the attack but walked free from court after a judge heard his behaviour was out of character.

The story of Julie Sarvari-Whiting’s infidelity was told at Oxford Crown Court where her husband was being sentenced for assault.

Kathy Olliver, prosecuting, told the court the defendant had been heading for bankruptcy at the time and he had signed their property over to his wife.

He then learned his wife of 22 years had been cheating on him.

The defendant got drunk and pushed her, before going for a shower. Afterwards, his mood had not improved and he assaulted her again, threatening to burn down the house.

He then went out to the garage, seized a can of petrol and doused her in it. Mrs Saravri-Whiting managed to push him away and call the police to the house, called Myrtledene.

Whiting was arrested on suspicion of several offences, including arson with intent to endanger life. However, prosecutors accepted he did not have a lighter at the time and that he was never formally charged with that crime.

He admitted affray and common assault. Henry James, defending, had told the judge that his client, who had no previous convictions, had acted in an out-of-character way after learning of the affair.

Judge Anthony King passed a six-month jail term on the defendant but suspended it for 18 months. He also ordered him to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and he subjected him to a restraining order for six months.