A traveller who repeatedly beat up his new wife was told by a judge: "You brought shame on your community."

Two of Wisdom Patrick Lee's assaults on Natalia Mason happened in the Penrith area - only weeks after a Las Vegas wedding in December.

As a result of his offending, 30-year-old Lee has been banned from contacting Miss Mason for a decade.

That was part of his sentence at Carlisle Crown Court, when prosecutor Gerard Rogerson outlined a "volatile and tempestuous" marriage.

This followed a Facebook "courtship" between Lee and 22-year-old Miss Mason - both travelling community members.

One assault occurred on Boxing Day after the couple went to Penrith's Warehouse bar.

Lee became argumentative and pushed Miss Mason against a wall.

They returned to their hotel room where, said Mr Rogerson: "She was slapped to the face and punched to the buttocks and chest, leaving her with bruises and swelling."

While staying at a caravan in Penrith during January, Lee lashed out again "in drink" with fearful Miss Mason "feigning sleep".

"He dragged her off the bed by the hair. That caused a clump of her hair to be pulled from her head," said Mr Rogerson.

There were further slaps and punches as Miss Mason "pleaded" with him to stop.

The prosecutor added: "She says the more she screamed, the worse it got."

There were also two assaults in Blackpool. During one, Miss Mason was punched and had a sock stuffed in her mouth "to gag her screams".

Lee's conduct, the court heard, had "destroyed" the life of Miss Mason, who was "seeking divorce proceedings".

Russell Davies, defending, said Lee had already served the equivalent of a 10-month jail term. A retired police officer's character reference described Lee as "honest" and a "good man".

Lee, of Bridge House Road, Blackpool, admitted four assault charges, and putting a person in fear of violence by harassment over a 10-week period. He was handed a 12-month community order comprising 180 hours' unpaid work and rehabilitation.

He must pay Miss Mason £1,000 compensation, and was told by Judge Peter Davies: "That marriage, to say the least, was tempestuous and traumatic.

"As a result you brought shame upon her; you brought shame upon your parents; you brought shame upon your community through your persistent and continuous behaviour and violence towards that lady."