AN Ipswich man hit his wife with a piece of wood in front of their children after she locked him out of their home during an argument a court has heard.

AN Ipswich man hit his wife with a piece of wood in front of their children after she locked him out of their home during an argument a court has heard.

Kirk Earrey had also grabbed hold of his wife Charlotte by the neck and stabbed a doorframe with a kitchen knife during the same incident Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Earrey, 23, of Whitland Close, Ipswich admitted battery and was made the subject of a two year community order with a two year supervision requirement.

Robert Sadd, prosecuting, said the couple's relationship had been under strain at the time of the offence and there had been a number of arguments between them.

In December Earrey had left the family home after an argument and had gone to sit in his car.

When he tried to return to the house he found he was locked out and he had forced his way back in through the back door carrying a piece of wood.

He had struck his wife on the arm with the wood in front of their children and had stabbed the doorframe with a kitchen knife his wife had picked up when he came back into the house. Earrey had also grabbed his wife by the throat.

Kevin Clarke, for Earrey, said his client had shouldered the responsibility of his wife's four children and his own son who was physically demanding because of a handicap.

He said Earrey and his wife had separated and had no intention of staying together.