A DAD who assaulted his wife after she returned from a Christmas party has been left with a hefty court bill.

Marc Horsell, 55, punched his spouse Rosemary in the face leaving her with a swollen lip, a court heard.

The father-of-two was ordered to pay thousands of pounds in fines and costs and handed a restraining order preventing him from contacting her.

He now accepts their 33-year marriage is at an end, Newport Magistrates' Court heard.

Horsell will only be able to contact her through solicitors to settle their forthcoming divorce.

The court heard how Horsell called his wife several times during the party in Cardiff but she did not hear them.

She later picked up one call in which he swore at her and told her to "get home now", prosecutor Ceri Murphy told the bench.

Ms Murphy said that his wife felt they did not have a particularly happy relationship and that it deteriorated when he consumed alcohol.

Mrs Horsell added that her husband had previously not been happy when she had gone out.

She got a lift home off a friend and spotted her husband driving in the opposite direction as they neared their home in Newport, the court was told.

Mrs Horsell believed he had gone out looking for him, Ms Murphy said.

When she got to the property in Channel View an argument ensued and he struck her on the face, the court heard.

He was later charged with one charge of assault by beating.

The case was listed for trial but he changed his plea to guilty.

Horsell has now moved out of the marital home and stays at the Ibis Hotel in Malpas Road.

Defence solicitor Ian George said his client did not accept he had contacted his wife during the work do.

And he did not accept having gone out to look for her as she returned home, Mr George added.

Mr George said that his client accepted their marriage was at an end.

He told the court: "There is a lot of remorse. He is very disappointed, in fact devastated this is likely to lead to the end of his marriage."

Newport magistrate Peter Wood ordered Horsell to pay a £1,340 fine, £625 prosecution costs, £100 compensation to his wife and a £120 surcharge.

The restraining order will stop him from contacting her until further notice.

He will also be prohibited from going to her home and place of work as well as entering any digital data referring to her.