A MAN threatened to kill his pregnant wife because she wanted to go to bingo, a court heard.

Father-of-three Kevin Abel punched Christine Abel twice after an argument that was also prompted by a game of darts.

Mrs Abel told the court an argument had broken out after her husband refused to let her go to bingo.

"The pushing and shoving stopped," she said.

"I think more words were said, then he punched me in the face catching my eye, then the second punch was just beneath my right eye.

"At one point he said he would kill me and, if he had to, he would use a knife."

Joe Kieran, defending, told Worcester magistrates that the argument on Monday, May 22 had been over a game of darts. Abel and three of his friends refused to play outside after a request from Mrs Abel.

Mr Kieran alleged Mrs Abel struck the first blow, punching her husband who raised an arm in self-defence, catching her in the face.

"I fought back, which I'd never done before, because I was pregnant," said Mrs Abel, of Elgar Avenue, Malvern.

Her husband, also of Elgar Avenue, told the court his wife, whom he had known for 10 years, threw the first punch.

"She was angry but I went out of the room," he said at yesterday's hearing.

"I went towards the stairs. I turned round and my friend told me she'd taken some darts out of the board.

"She threw a dart at me and missed."

The court heard Mrs Abel had gone to the home of Debbie Collins on Tuesday, May 30 - where her husband was - and demanded to see Mrs Collins.

When Mrs Collins called the police Mrs Abel left, allegedly punching her 28-year-old husband again and giving him a cut lip.

Magistrates gave Abel a 12-month conditional discharge for assault. He had denied the charge but was convicted.