A husband hit his wife with a dog lead before threatening her with a meat cleaver.

Peter McCabe passed out after taking pills following the attack before being arrested after regaining consciousness in Ninewells Hospital the following day.

McCabe lashed out at wife Kerri after arguing with his brother-in-law at a family gathering.

The couple, married for just six months at the time, then returned home after the get together on December 27.

Fiscal depute Trina Sinclair told Dundee Sheriff Court: "After the couple had returned home the accused had become angry with his wife and shouted at her about the argument with her brother.

"Mrs McCabe then went to the bedroom but McCabe followed her, pinning her down on the bed and punching her on the head.

“The accused then pushed her to the floor and started kicking her as she tried to cover herself. He eventually stopped and sat on the bed. His wife asked him to leave but he refused.

"Mrs McCabe then went downstairs to the kitchen and tried to use a dog lead to smash a window to leave the property as the door was locked. McCabe then grabbed the lead and whipped her twice on the back.”

The court was told that at some point McCabe had taken pills and at this stage their effects took hold.

Miss Sinclair said: "He appeared to be comatose and his wife tried to see if he was breathing. Police and ambulance were called and found Mrs McCabe with a swelling to her left temple and injuries to her arm and back.”

McCabe, 33, of Carberry Crescent, Dundee, admitted assaulting wife at a property in Dundee's Findale Street by pinning her to a bed, punching her on the head, kicking her, chasing her, striking her with a dog lead and threatening her with a meat cleaver.

Jim Laverty, defending, said his client was "very sorry" and that the attack was an "isolated incident".

Sheriff Alistair Duff described the attack as "shocking". He deferred sentence on McCabe until August 14 and ordered him to be of good behaviour.