A TRANENT man threatened to break his wife’s finger after she refused to allow him access to her mobile phone amid allegations of infidelity within their marriage.

Christopher Miller, 35, of Haddington Road, then slapped the woman to the face before forcing her to activate the mobile by holding her finger on the device.

Miller also brandished a metal wrench at the woman during the incident at a property at the town’s Gavin’s Lee in February. He appeared for sentencing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court after previously admitting the offence.

Sheriff John Cook said that Miller’s behaviour had been “erratic and concerning” but acknowledged the background of “alleged infidelity” within the marriage and that he had been of good behaviour for a period of time.

“You and your wife are now separated and are now co-operating with the children and the financial arrangements,” he told Miller. The court will impose a financial penalty of £400 but if there is any reoccurrence it would be unlikely to be dealt with in such a manner.”

Miller admitted assaulting his wife by threatening to break her finger, demanding she unlock her phone, slapping her on the face, forcing her to open her phone by holding her finger on the device and brandishing a metal wrench at her on February 4.