A PUB landlord was fined after he admitted assaulting his wife by beating her.

Alan Michael Gorbutt, 50, who runs the Pheasant Inn, on Crosthwaite Road, Keswick, admitted assaulting his wife and business partner Michelle on October 26.

District Judge Gerald Chalk fined him £275 when he appeared at North And West Cumbria Magistrates Court in Workington on Friday.

Pam Fee, prosecuting said Gorbutt and his wife were having a drink with some customers - Gorbutt had had five pints and his wife had had a bottle of Prosecco.

But after the customers left, the couple had an argument and the defendant called her names and tried to stop her from leaving.

Ms Fee said: "He tried to stop her from leaving and she fell back and hit her head. Her head was bleeding and he [Gorbutt] then goes to get her a towel." An ambulance was then called. Ms Fee showed pictures of the injuries to judge Chalk, which included a cut to the back of the head and bruising to her hands and arms.

Ms Fee said: "The defendant was interviewed by police and he admitted the argument between himself and his wife. He accepts he held her to avoid her leaving the premises and avoid her going missing."

David Thompson, defending, said Gorbutt was concerned his wife would go missing if she had left the pub, due to previous occasions where that had happened.

Mr Thompson said: "What he says in his interview is that of course he doesn't have the right to prevent her from leaving, and in grabbing her arm he was committing an assault. The front door of the pub is in a porch, which is quite a confined space. That's where there was a struggle as she tried to get him off her. She lashed out at him, which caused some scratches to his face. There's a hook behind the front door to hold it open, it seems she hit her head on that, which is what caused the bleeding."

Mr Thompson added Mrs Gorbutt only decided to report her husband three or four days later, after a further argument.

"This whole incident and the problems in their relationship arises from the amount of pressure they're under to run the pub. They took the lease up only in July and it's been a steep learning curve."

Judge Chalk, sentencing, said: "I give you full credit for the fact you pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and you have no previous convictions. All domestic violence cases are serious because they're a breach of trust. She's not just your life partner, but also your business partner."

Gorbutt was also ordered to pay £85 costs and £30 victim surcharge.