A cheating husband beat up his wife after she discovered he was having a string of affairs and confronted him.

Arthur Fergusson, 46, had been seeing several other women behind his wife Elizabeth's back and resorted to violence when he was caught out.

Perth Sheriff Court heard that on September 5 Mrs Fergusson became aware that her husband had become involved in a number of indiscretions.

Fiscal depute Donna Davidson said: "She returned to the family home with a friend and confronted her husband. He initially denied this and began shouting at Mrs Fergusson, telling her to stop causing trouble.

"He was demanding to know why she was lying. The argument continued between the two and she demanded that he admit what he had done.

"The accused became more angry and eventually lunged towards her and grabbed her by the neck, slapped her neck and pushed her forcibly, causing her to stumble into the hallway."

The court heard she pushed him back and he grabbed hold of her in a headlock.

"The pair were struggling with each other and she managed to pull him to the ground, causing him to lose his grip."

The argument continued and she and the witnesses left the house. They spent the night in a car before contacting the police the next day.

Fergusson was initially charged with hurling a knife at his wife and attacking a witness, but the Crown accepted his guilty plea to a reduced charge.

Arthur Fergusson, of Hawthornbank, Wolfhill, Perth, admitted attacking his wife Elizabeth at their former family home in Bankfoot, Perthshire.

Sentence was deferred for reports.