A FATHER who launched a drunken attack on his wife has been spared jail but banned from contacting her for five years.

Yusuf Kariuki’s victim said her attacker doesn’t understand that domestic violence, which she says is ignored in Africa, is not allowed in this country.

But after hearing that the relationship is over and the 47-year-old, known as Paul, is now living in Peterborough, a judge imposed a suspended sentence.

Charles Parry, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court that the couple, who have two grown-up children, had been together for many years.

He said: “In short this was not a happy marriage. The victim is the defendant’s partner or wife. During an interview she was to give an explanation for the assault on her.

“She said ‘In Africa men are allowed to do any kind of beating up woman without anyone saying anything to them and he has brought that to this country and he is not supposed to in this country and I don’t think he understands that’.”

On Saturday, December 13 last year he had been out drinking with friends when he returned to their Penhill home after about six pints of lager.

“She was making the bed,” Mr Parry said, “He didn’t like it. He punched her to the nose. She said he gets very aggressive.”

The victim, Irene Kariuki Flo, told the police: “That is the way he gets the aggression out of him. To beat me up. It doesn’t happen when he is sober.

“'I would say Paul is a person who has very bad anger. He will start abusive language and provoke me. I say to him, I have never known a man who beats up a woman like you do. It is never men, always women like me.’”

Kariuki, formerly of Trowbridge Close, pleaded guilty to actual bodily harm and leaving her with a bleeding nose when he punched her.

James Burke, defending, said that his client had moved away to Peterborough and planned to remain there. However he said he was concerned about having contact with his daughters, who are aged 17 and 24.

“He is aware of the fact that there has been considerable damage done within the family and he has made a sensible decision to move to another area,” he said.

Passing sentence Judge Tim Mousley QC said: “The background to these offences is that you have not been together with Miss Flo for many years.

“It was certainly not always a peaceful relationship and characterised in recent years by drunken violence. You had been drinking with your mates.

“It involves the assault of your partner which demonstrates the sort of controlling attitude you have obviously had towards her for many years.”

He imposed a six month jail term suspended for two years with supervision, a five-year restraining ordera programme requirement to and put him on a domestic violence programme, and a five year restraining order.