An alcoholic only stopped attacking his wife when his young son begged him to "get off mummy".

John Devereaux, started getting abusive with his wife after a drinking session at his former home in High Firs, Swanley, in August last year.

His wife discovered the 48-year-old asleep in a chair surrounded by empty cans of cider when she returned home with their son.

She told the young boy to go to his room as she expected Devereaux to get abusive, which he did.

Devereaux, who now lives in Alder Way, Taverham, Norwich, was later charged and pleaded gulity to assault by beating when he appeared in court in December.

Sentencing was adjourned and he appeared before magistrates in Maidstone on February 17 to learn his fate.

James Nichols, prosecuting, said: “The victim and the defendant were married for 13 years and their relationship started in 1996. They have a 10-year-old son.

“He has struggled with alcohol issues throughout their relationship.

"On August 8, as they were going through the throws of divorce, she went out with their son and as she came back she had to look through the window as she was concerned he might been drinking.

“She saw him asleep in a chair with cans of alcohol around the room.

“She told her son to go to his room as she was worried he would be abusive. They began to argue and he pushed passed her on the stairs and raised his forearm to her neck and pushed her back against a door.

“He restricted her breathing and their son came out of his room and told him to ‘get off mummy’ and he then released her.”

The court also heard during an interview, Devereaux, appeared to make admissions about what he had done but couldn’t remember that much about the incident as he had drunk four litres of cider that day.

The prosecutor added: “He was sorry for his actions and said he had an alcohol addiction but needed help with that.”

A probation officer who had interviewed Devereaux said he had told her he was no longer consuming alcohol like he used to and that his last drink was more than a week ago. He said he was still working on himself.

She also confirmed Devereaux, a delivery driver, had been seeking help with his drinking problem by attending various groups including one for better mental health as he had also suffered various bereavements.

The court was also told the couple’s divorce would be finalised in March.

Magistrates decided to place Devereaux on a 12-month community order which will involve him carrying out 100 hours of unpaid work and attending 10 rehabilitation sessions.

He was also ordered to pay £299 in court costs and victim surcharge and will pay what he owes the court in full within 28 days.

He was also banned from contacting his estranged wife for 12 months or going near her address.