A NETHERTON chef left his wife scarred for life when he threw a bucket of boiling water at her during an argument.

During another attack, Kevin Walker, of Blackbrook Road, "went beyond the bounds of self defence" when he struck his partner across the face, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

After his arrest Walker, who admitted two charges of assault causing actual bodily harm, told police he loved his wife and said he had been unaware the water in a mop bucket had been hot.

Recorder Anthony Lowe told Walker it was clearly an act that would normally have merited an immediate custodial sentence but the prosecution had accepted it had been reckless rather than deliberate.

He said it was clear there was a history of heated rows between the couple, who are now separated, but that was never justification for violence.

Antony Schiller, defending, said the scalding incident only became known to police after the second assault in which Walker backhanded his wife across the face during another argument.

"He lost all self control and he threw the water accepting he had been reckless", said Mr Schiller.

"There was never any intention to scald her and he was extremely upset by what he had done."

Mr Schiller said the second assault came as the couple struck out at each other and Walker had over-reacted as he went beyond the bounds of self defence and was "full of remorse" for his actions.

Walker, aged 44, was placed on supervision for 18 months and ordered to pay £500 costs.

He was also made the subject of a two year restraining order forbidding him from having any direct contact with his wife.