A MAN hit his wife in the face as they rowed about her going on holiday without him.
Jigar Patel, 30, "lashed out" at Simal Patel outside their home in Broughton Road, Thornton Heath on July 9.
He hit her nose with such force that her glasses were thrown into a neighbour's garden.
Patel, of Broughton Road, Thornton Heath, pleaded guilty to assault by beating at Croydon Magistrates' Court on Wednesday (September 24).
The court heard the couple's relationship had deteriorated over a period of years as Patel tried to "control everything she does", including seeing her friends.
They arranged to go on holiday together to see if they could repair their marriage. However, the evening before they were due to leave Jigar decided he no longer wanted to go.
When Simal said she would go alone, they began to argue. As she tried to leave the house he grabbed her arm and hit her in the nose, knocking her glasses off.
They went back indoors and the situation calmed but, when she tried to leave in the morning, he refused to let her go.
Worried her husband would hit her a second time, Simal locked herself in a bedroom and called the police.
Jigar, of previously good character, admitted grabbing his wife's arm but claims he threw the glasses rather than striking her in the face.
The magistrate adjourned the case for a probation report which will consider all options, including a custodial sentence.
Patel was released on bail, on condition he does not contact his wife, until sentencing on October 15.
