A MUSSELBURGH man assaulted his wife after she accidentally spilled a cup of coffee over him.

Dean Montgomery, of Denholm Avenue, grabbed his wife by the hair when the pair argued at their home in November last year.

A witness to the assault contacted the police.

Montgomery, 39, pleaded guilty to an amended charge when he appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last Tuesday.

The court heard that the incident took place at about 7pm on November 5 last year and the couple were said to have been arguing all day.

Montgomery’s wife sat down to have a cup of coffee and the couple continued to row with each other.

The woman was then said to have stood up and slipped, “knocking the cup of coffee”, before he reacted violently.

In retaliation, Montgomery stood up and assaulted the woman by grabbing her by the hair.

Allegations of Montgomery pulling his wife to the floor and kicking her during the incident were deleted from the charge before his guilty plea.

Solicitor David Allan said that the couple’s relationship had resumed and was “now on an even keel”.

Sheriff Robert Fife said: “I will deal with you appropriately if you are of good behaviour.”

Sentence was deferred to May 14.

Montgomery admitted assaulting his wife and seizing her by the hair.