A MAN threw a shoe at his wife and cut her face during an argument.

Droitwich Magistrates Court was told how Matthew Hall had injured wife Sarah after she had been on a night out with friends and she did not have a key to get in their home.

Mrs Hall had returned home from Birmingham at about 3.30am on Saturday, September 8, said Edward Soulsby, prosecuting yesterday.

"He was drunk and punched her in the eye, and started pushing her around the room.

"She took her shoes off and he threw them at her, hitting her in the face and her hand."

After the attack, Mrs Hall was left with grazes on her thumb, elbow, head and above her eyebrow, as well as a cut to her eye and swelling on her face, according to a report from Dr Richard Lewis, which was read out at the hearing.

Twenty-two-year-old Hall, of Hathaway Close, Dines Green, Worcester, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

But a Newton hearing, which is carried out when the defence does not accept the prosecution's version of events, was held as Hall disputed his wife's story.

He claimed he had not punched his wife, and had thrown the shoes over his shoulder while not looking, and had not meant to hit her with them.

Magistrates decided they believed Mrs Hall's version of events, although they could not come to a decision on whether he had punched her.

They ordered a pre-sentence report and Hall is due to be sentenced on Thursday, January 10.