A WATERSIDE man has been living in a car following a heated row with his wife which culminated in her suffering a broken nose.

Paul Cleal and his wife Joanne had been slapping each other before he delivered a backhand swipe which broke her nose.

Southampton Crown Court heard the couple had endured a difficult two-year marriage and after the incident last September, Cleal went to live with his mother. The court heard that, because of his anxiety problems, she asked him to leave and he had since been living in the car.

"He has no fixed address and has nowhere to go," said defence lawyer Alexander Mills. "He expresses his sincere apologies and regret for what has happened and it seems to have shaken his whole world."

Cleal, 42, of Langdown Road, Hythe, admitted causing actual bodily harm.

Said to be of previous good character, he was given 12 months supervision and a 80 hour community work order. He was also ordered to pay his wife £250 compensation.