A WOMAN was terrified to leave home after she was beaten by her husband, a court was told yesterday

Denise Glasper, of Darlington, said she was too frightened to go to work in case her husband Paul, 47, was waiting for her.

Her teeth were badly damaged in the attack, but she was too afraid to seek medical treatment and she could not go to pubs and clubs where they had been as a couple in case her husband was there.

She was assaulted when she told him she was leaving and went upstairs to pack, said Gillian Batts, prosecuting.

Mrs Glasper told police that he dragged her by the hair into the dining room, where he punched her several times. She managed to telephone the police, who found her in a distressed state with her face covered in blood. She was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital, Teesside Crown Court was told.

In a Victim Impact statement, Mrs Glasper said she was easy going before the attack, but had become nervous and was taking anti-depressants.

Jamie Hill, defending, said the couple, who had been together for five years, were getting divorced.

Glasper recognised that there were major problems, fuelled by drinking.

Judge Guy Whitburn told him: "This was a particularly vicious assault."

The sentencing of Glasper, of Lismore Drive, Darlington, who pleaded guilty to the assault on January 9, was deferred for six months.