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, County Durham.

A heated row erupted when the mother-of-two returned from shopping with chocolate biscuits that 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 woke his wife to continue the argument before breaking 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 Lyn Gatland told Dixon they would not be sending him to prison.

Dixon was given a two-year community supervision order and ordered to attend a community domestic violence programme. He was also ordered to pay £60 in court costs.

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