THE wife of an Ipswich man, who was jailed for slapping their child, has promised to stand by him – but on the condition that he mends his ways.The 26-year-old woman, speaking after her husband was jailed for two months at South-East Magistrates Court on Thursday, said: "If he can change his ways then I will take him back.

THE wife of an Ipswich man, who was jailed for slapping their child, has promised to stand by him – but on the condition that he mends his ways.

The 26-year-old woman, speaking after her husband was jailed for two months at South-East Magistrates Court on Thursday, said: "If he can change his ways then I will take him back. His main problem was his drinking."

"Every night after work he went for a drink. He was supposed to be going to get treatment to get help with it but I'm not sure he will be able to now."

She continued: "I do believe him when he says he will not do it again. I have his word on that. I will stand by him but I will stand by my daughter as well."

The woman said: "I felt hurt and angry and I said to him not to do that ever again. He did not know where to put his face but he said he was really sorry."

The woman, who has been married to her husband for three years, admitted she was shocked at the length of the sentence but thought that it was probably a fair punishment.

The incident happened after the man discovered that his new rotary washing line had been snapped. He had just returned home from the pub after drinking one pint.

He confronted his step-daughter while she was in bed and slammed his fist twice on her pillow. He then slapped her across the face.

His wife was downstairs when the incident happened and did not witness it.

She said: "It was quite a heavy handed slap on the face. He has shown violence in the past but that has all stopped. It was a massive over reaction."

The woman reported her husband to Suffolk Social Services after learning of the incident.

The couple cannot be named for legal reasons.

She said: "I did not notice the mark on my daughter's face until the next day. I asked her how she had got it and she turned round and said 'Daddy slapped me'."

"I went to Tower Street to report it to social services and they came and investigated and took photographs."

Social Services are due to make a decision on the future of the youngster in the next few days. The girl is currently living with the mother's parents.