A 39-YEAR-OLD man put the supper his wife had cooked him to one side, assaulted her, and then returned to his meal.

Blackburn magistrates heard Saifuddin Musa Yusuf pinned his wife on the floor, told her he was going to 'wreck' her face and then punched her repeatedly about the head, face and twisted her wrists.

Yusuf, of Whalley Range, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mehfuza Yusuf.

He was sentenced to four months in prison suspended for 12 months, made subject to a community order with a 30 day rehabilitation activity requirement and ordered to pay £200 compensation, £85 costs and £115 victim surcharge. He was made subject to a restraining order for two years with conditions that he does not contact his wife or approach her address.

Passing sentence the chairman of the magistrates said it was a sustained attack.

"Afterwards you carried on having your dinner. There was no remorse shown and the victim was forced to leave her home."

Eddie Harrison, prosecuting, said Mrs Yusuf had been to Bolton celebrating Eid festival and when she came home he went for a bath, came back downstairs and asked for something to eat.

"He went in another room to eat his meal but then an argument started," said Mr Harrison.

"He grabbed her by both arms and put her on the floor before sitting on her legs and punching her repeatedly. A young child who was in the house heard her mother screaming and went into the room. The defendant went back to finish his meal and she fled from the house with their four-year-old child."

Mr Harrison said Yusuf had a previous conviction for assaulting the same victim.

Zubur Afzal, defending, said his client claimed he was having a conversation with his wife and she spoke to him in a derogatory manner which angered him.

"She saw him becoming angry and goaded him to hit her, which he did," said Mr Afzal.

"He knows he was in the wrong and should be punished. He was hoping for a reconciliation but it doesn't appear there is much hope of that now the court has been told she wants a restraining order."