A 44-year-old Skipton man had lost everything as a result of a “serious” assault on his wife, magistrates were told.

Stuart Rouse argued with his wife, Emma, following a night out with friends and punched her “six to eight” times, Skipton magistrates heard.

Following the assault, in the early hours of March 1, at the family home in Greatwood Avenue, Mrs Rouse was taken to Airedale Hospital.

She suffered two black eyes, bruising and abrasions to her neck.

Rouse, who is now living with his mother in Gargrave Road, was in court for sentencing after admitting assault by beating at an earlier hearing.

Magistrates told him it was a serious assault and handed him an 18-month community order with supervision.

He will also have to comply with a two-month curfew between the hours of 9pm and 6am and pay costs of £85 and a victims surcharge of £60.

The court heard that Rouse had been very remorseful following the assault on his wife and during interview with police had broken down several times.

He had accepted full responsibility for his wife’s injuries and she had not wanted to pursue a complaint against him or seek a restraining order.

In mitigation, John Mewies said Rouse was now living in his mother’s house and it was unlikely that Rouse would be reconciled with his wife.

“He has lost everything, his family, his wife and his home,” said Mr Mewies. “This was an isolated incident that resulted from a nonsensical argument that escalated because of the power of drink.”

Since the incident Rouse had sought help from Craven Organisation for Drugs and Alcohol (CODA).