A PUB landlord attacked his wife after cracking under the strain of the job, Burnley magistrates were told.

Gary Evans, 39, licensee of the Woodman public house, Todmorden Road, Burnley, punched victim Sarah Evans in the face as one of their three children tried to stop him.

Police, alerted by the teenagers, found Mrs Evans hysterical and with a cut lip.

The defendant was later to tell officers his behaviour, on a rare night off, was due to a moment of madness because of stress.

Evans's solicitor told magistrates how the defendant had been made redundant twice before getting the tenancy.

He said taking on the pub was potentially a life-changing decision. It had proved to be just that - but for all the wrong reasons, the solicitor added.

The defendant admitted assault causing actual bodily harm following the incident on November 18. He was fined £200, and told to pay £100 compensation and £75 costs.

Elizabeth Read, prosecuting, told the court the defendant and victim had locked up the pub at night and gone upstairs.

The couple had an argument and the defendant punched his wife while she lay on the bed.

Mrs Evans recalled shouting and screaming and her husband refused to let her out of the bedroom, the court heard. Their daughter Amy, 18, was awoken by shouting and could hear her mother screaming.

She heard noises from her parents' bedroom and heard her mum scream: "I love you, I love you."

She tried to get in but the defendant was behind the door and as she shouted "Get off her," Evans shouted at her to get back to bed, the court heard.

Mrs Read said Amy ran downstairs crying and upset and woke up her brother.

Police were called and found Mrs Evans hysterical, visibly injured and with a swollen and bleeding lip. Evans told police he had been under pressure and not getting any time with his family and that he and his wife had argued over "crazy little things" when they had time together.

Mrs Read added that the pair were not reconciled.

Dylan Bradshaw, defending, said the defendant and his wife had been together 27 years.

The Woodman pub had previously attracted one or two undesirable elements, but when Evans took it over police say he cleaned it up and they were anxious he remained the licensee.

The family had had very little time together and the offence took place at the end of an evening off when the defendant momentarily lost self control, Mr Bradshaw said.

The defendant struck his wife in the face with his fist and that was a decision he would regret until "he drew his last breath".

His wife had left and he had not spoken to his daughter since the incident, the court heard.

The solicitor added the defendant was embarassed, ashamed and felt humiliated by his court appearance.