A SOUTHAMPTON man punched his wife in the face while she held one of their children, a court heard.

Ali Halimi then punched her to the head when she fell over at their city home.

When he appeared at Winchester Crown Court he was told by a judge: “You don’t own her. You cannot hurt her or be unpleasant to her whenever you want.

“It is your duty to love and respect her.”

Judge Keith Cutler heard how police had found Najiba Halimi distressed after they had answered a phone call from their home.

She told them how she and her husband, Ali, had rowed over their relationship and the way he had been bringing up their children.

Prosecutor Edward Phillips described how he had become angry and punched her in the face while she was holding one of their children.

He then pushed her to the ground and after she had fallen down, he repeatedly punched her to the head before hitting her on her left shoulder and right forearm with a metal curtain pole.

When she called the police, he ripped the line from the socket.

When questioned, Halimi acknowledged he had lost control.

Halimi, 29, of no fixed address, admitted assault by beating.

Said to be of previous good character, he received a three-month suspended sentence with 12 months' supervision.

The judge told him: “I hope you can repair your marriage and live with your wife and children.”

In mitigation at Winchester Crown Court, Susan Ridge said working with the probation service would be beneficial to Halimi and provide greater protection for his wife.