A Tunisian man twice assaulted his teacher wife, Skipton magistrates heard Bilel Ayari, 24, who had met his wife Sally while she was on holiday in Tunisia, assaulted her twice on October 25 in Norfolk Road, Harrogate, and again on November 26 at their home in Kings Mill Lane, Settle.

Ayari, who admitted both assaults by beating when he appeared at court on Friday, slapped and hit his wife, leaving her with a black eye and bruising.

The court heard the couple met in Tunisia in March 2012 and had married there the following August.

Ayari had come to live in Settle in June and there had been previous incidents of disagreements after he had been drinking, the court was told.

On October 25, the pair had argued and Ayari had slapped Mrs Ayari across the face.

He had then returned to Tunisia following the death of his father, but on his return there had been another incident where he had grabbed his wife and hit her across the cheek.

The court heard Mrs Ayari, a teacher, had attempted to cover her bruising and had told colleagues she had hit herself on a chest of drawers.

She had initially said she had been concerned of repercussions but the couple were now reconciled, the court heard.

In mitigation, Mohammed Hussain said Ayari was deeply ashamed and embarrassed about what he had done to his wife and accepted it was no way to treat her.

Mr Hussain said Ayari had struggled to find work, despite searching very hard, had been employed in Tunisia and found it difficult not to be able to provide for his wife.

He added Ayari had been very upset and depressed following the death of his father.

Magistrates adjourned sentencing until January 24 for reports.