A CONTROLLING husband who attacked his pregnant wife in front of their four-year-old child has been jailed.

Preston Crown Court heard the pair had an arranged marriage in Pakistan in 2012 and had only lived together in their own home in Blackburn for a few weeks when the man set upon his wife - who was born and raised in Lancashire.

During his time in the UK, the husband, 27, controlled his wife’s social media, mobile phone use, her work, her choice in clothes and make-up and when she showered.

The man cannot be named to protect his victim's identity.

On the morning of May 28 this year, neighbours heard the couple arguing at the family home.

Inside the house, the husband was shouting and crashing around in the kitchen.

When his wife challenged him, he barged past her, telling her: “I can do what I want.”

As the woman went to the kitchen her husband grabbed her by her hair and dragged her to the floor, where he put his hands around her throat and started kicking her.

He kicked her arms, chest and stomach, knowing she was in the early stages of pregnancy, the court heard.

His wife said she wanted a divorce, but her husband twisted her arm and pulled off her wedding ring, telling her if she wanted a divorce she would be punished for it.

The woman called her father who came to the house and called for emergency services.

When they arrived at the house, the man was outside smoking a cigarette and the woman was inside with their son, who told officers: “Mummy and daddy were fighting.”

She was taken to hospital by ambulance and was treated for a number of cuts and bruises.

Officers also seized the man’s phone and discovered 190 extreme pornographic images.

The husband pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and possession of extreme pornography, and appeared at Preston Crown Court to be sentenced.

Judge Simon Newell said: “You were not anticipating, or aware of, or able to come to terms with the cultural differences between your home in Pakistan and the way of life your wife - who I believe was born, raised and educated in this country - the way she ran her life.

“There is evidence that your attitude to the marriage was coercive and controlling.”

The man was jailed for a total of 28 months - 22 months for the attack on his wife and a further six months for possession of extreme pornography.

He was also handed a restraining order for 12 months.