A FORMER Embsay man attacked his wife of 30 years with a silver topped walking stick after returning home in drink, heard Skipton Magistrates' Court.

Michael Marshall, 69, was on a community order for an earlier assault on his wife, Jane, when he punched and struck her after returning home to Embsay on November 4.

Magistrates sentenced Marshall, who appeared in court in a neck brace after slipping and fracturing his head, to 16 weeks in prison, suspended for a year.

In a statement, Mrs Marshall said both she and her husband drank a lot and that they had a 'turbulent' relationship. He had assaulted her several times before, but they had tried to sort things out with a condition that he not attend a particular social club.

On November 4, he had come home after drinking, he had 'piggy eyes' and she believed him to be in a bad mood.

He then punched her in the face and with a walking stick hit her twice in the face.

In her statement, Mrs Marshall said she got the stick off her husband and followed him into the living room where he continued verbal abuse.

Realising he was going to hit her again, she struck him on the head with the walking stick, describing how he did not flinch.

Mrs Marshall called emergency services and she was treated for two lumps to her forehead, but refused to go to hospital, the court heard.

In her statement, Mrs Marshall continued she was devastated that the marriage had failed after 30 years, but that she could do no more.

Marshall, who admitted assault by beating, had slipped the day after being released by police, fracturing his skull and the base of his spine. He had spent several days in Airedale Hospital and had been told he was lucky not to have been paralysed.

In mitigation, John Mewies said it was fair to say the couple had a toxic relationship and that it was now over with both deciding to go their separate ways.

He said there had been issues with Marshall's drinking and that he wife was understandably resentful.

He pointed out on the day, Marshall had walked away from his wife, but that she had followed him. She had sustained injuries, but so had her husband, a black eye and bruises to his arms.

Magistrates left Marshall's current order in place and imposed a 16 week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. Now of Wood Lane, Grassington, he will also have to complete up to 25 rehabilitation requirement activity days and nine months of alcohol rehabilitation treatment, and pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £115.