A webcam installed by concerned relatives caught a 75-year-old Ipswich man kicking and punching his wife as she lay defenceless on their kitchen floor.

Basil Reid, of Cotswold Avenue, is facing prison for the first time after he pleaded guilty at South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court to actual bodily harm on his 75-year-old wife Catherine.

It was Reid’s fourth conviction for assaulting his wife in less than a year.

The latest attack was caught on a webcam the couple’s family installed in their kitchen.

Prosecutor Tess Mann said the Reids are alcoholics.

Reid – who spent 40 years working in education – was convicted of two counts of battery earlier this year and one last year, the court heard.

As a consequence his family had put in the webcam. Mrs Mann said the incident was seen by their daughter who contacted police.

The unprovoked attack began with Reid walking into the kitchen and he grabbed his wife, punching her three times to the face.

Magistrates were told on Monday Mrs Reid fell to the floor and her husband then punched and kicked her while she was down.

Mrs Reid was seen to be trying to defend herself.

The incident lasted for about 10 minutes and happened at around 5.30pm.

Reid called an ambulance for his wife and could be heard to say to her on the webcam tape “you won’t do that again”.

Mrs Reid suffered swelling and bruising to her right hand.

She was taken to hospital and it was discovered a small bone in her hand had been broken, which is said to have happened while she was trying to protect her face.

There was also fracture to her cheek bone, along with a red mark on her head and bruises to her legs.

The court was told Reid had been given a conditional discharge for common assault on his wife last December.

In March this year he was given a community order with a rehabilitation requirement for battery.

In June he was fined £735 and put on another community order for a like offence.

Mark Holt, representing Reid who listened to proceedings via a video link from Martlesham police headquarters, said as a result of his client calling an ambulance, police attended the couple’s property.

Mr Holt added after Reid committed the offence he had done his very best to ensure his wife had received medical treatment.

He has had problems with alcohol for some time and has recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Magistrates said the case was so serious it was beyond their sentencing powers.

They sent the matter to Ipswich Crown Court for sentencing at a date to be fixed.

Although there was an application for Reid to be given bail, it was denied and he was remanded in custody.