A FATHER-of-two who split his wife’s lip was spared an immediate prison sentence after a judge said he should be ashamed of himself.

Santori Bkahar had just returned from a family event when her husband, Jang, who had been asleep in their lounge, woke up and demanded to know where she had been.

Prosecutor Nicholas Cotter said he punched and then rained other blows on her which made her feel dizzy and almost pass out.

She screamed so loudly their daughters came downstairs and saw him standing over their mother in a threatening manner.

“He made threats to kill the victim and burn the house down,” said Mr Cotter. “That shows the level of aggression he was showing. He was beating up his wife.”

Bhakar, 47, of Parsonage Road, Southampton, had been committed for sentence at Winchester Crown Court after being convicted of causing actual bodily harm.

Mr Justice Royce, who was told the couple were trying to “rekindle” their relationship, gave him a 12-month suspended sentence with 12 months supervision.

He told him: “Your assault on your wife was disgraceful. You should be ashamed of yourself.”