A HUSBAND who attacked his wife for buying the wrong biscuits has been spared jail.

Stephen Dixon hit out at his wife Deborah at their home in Dunelm Walk, Consett.

A heated row erupted when the mother-of-two returned from shopping with chocolate biscuits her husband did not like.

The unemployed 44-year-old stormed out of the house only to return later, drunk, at 3.40am on February 1.

He then woke his wife to continue the argument before bursting her nose with his elbow.

Sharon Nevison, prosecuting, said: "The argument started because Mrs Dixon had bought chocolate biscuits for the family, which the defendant didn't agree with.

"His wife was in bed when he threw his arms out and his elbow hit her on the bridge of the nose.

"She felt immediate pain and got out of bed and walked out of the bedroom.

During sentencing at Consett Magistrates' Court, chairman of the bench Mrs Lyn Gatland told Dixon they would not be sending him to prison.

She said he had shown a degree of remorse and they accepted the injury was due to recklessness and was not intentional.

Dixon was given a two-year community supervision order and ordered to attend a community domestic violence programme.

Dixon was also ordered to pay £60 in court costs.

His wife has now applied for a divorce after 10 years of marriage.