A RICKMANSWORTH man who threatened his wife of almost 25 years with a knife was given a two-year community rehabilitation order on Monday.

John Hay, of Tudor Way, was ordered to attend a Men Against Violence course after St Albans Crown Court heard how he had punched his wife Linda four times in the face and hit her on the back of the head.

Hay, 51, a man of previous good character, pleaded guilty to three charges of causing actual bodily harm.

Prosecutor Anne Evans told the court on Sunday, February 3, Mrs Hay told her husband she would make an evening meal at 5pm.

He returned from the pub at 3.15pm to find she had already prepared the food.

He was told to reheat it but, according to Mrs Evans, Hay said he did not want "regurgitated" food and punched his wife twice in the face, knocking off her glasses and pushing her into the sofa. She ran upstairs and Hay went out.

He returned home again at 11.10pm to see his wife watching television.

As she walked past him, he grabbed her nightdress, pushed her into the doorframe and punched her twice saying: "I am going to get you before the end of the night."

Later in the bedroom he brandished a knife and shouted abuse at his wife.