Drunken Stephen Purse attacked his wife after a Christmas Party when she asked why he had only made coffee for himself.

Purse, 54, who had downed vodka and lager ended up spilling his coffee over his wife Gaynor before forcing her against a door.

With a knife in one hand, he put his other hand around her throat and said: "I will kill you," St Albans crown court heard yesterday.

Alison Ginn, prosecuting, a friend of their daughter came into the room and pulled Purse away. Mrs Purse was left with a red mark and a small scratch.

The police were called to the house in Station Road, Kings Langley and found Purse sitting on the sofa with a 10 inch kitchen knife on the table. He refused to stand up and was handcuffed.

When questioned Purse said he and his wife had drunk a bottle of vodka before going to the party where he drank lager. Asked how drunk he was on a scale of 10, he said 8 or 9.

Purse admitted assault by beating on the night of December 5. He admitted he was in breach of a five year restraining order that had been put in place in February 2010 to prevent him putting his wife in fear of violence.

Ms Ginn said the couple had been married for 30 years and there "was a history of him being violent towards her." In February 2010 Purse had pleaded guilty to battering his wife and in June 2011 he bit her twice and tried to strangle her.

At 2am on December 5 they returned home from the party and Purse made himself a coffee when his wife asked why he had not thought about anyone else.

Coffee was spilt over her face, neck, hair and chest before he forced her against the door, said Ms Ginn.

Defence barrister John Dyer said Mrs Purse had withdrawn her support for the prosecution and that the couple were going to continue their relationship.

Mr Dyer said alcohol was the trigger for the attack. "It was despicable behaviour. He had been able to reflect on his behaviour while in custody over Christmas."

Recorder Richard Crabtree told him: "You have two previous offences against your wife and this is the second breach of your restraining order."

He sentenced him to 8 months in jail suspended for two years. He will be supervised for probation officers for 24 months, must attend an Integrated Domestic Abuse Programme and take part in an Alcohol Treatment Requirement. He must pay £250 costs from his job seeker's allowance.

The Recorder said the Restraining Order will remain in place.