A 77-year-old Claudy man has been jailed for five months after admitting assaulting his wife.

Peter Joseph Fleming, of Irwin Crescent, pleaded guilty to the assault, which occurred on May 21. Police were called to the address at about 1.30am after the woman reported that her husband was angry and twisting her arm.

Officers arrived to find Fleming sitting outside the property drinking. He acknowledged that the couple had argued.

The court heard that the woman told police the couple had been married for 53 years. She said Fleming had developed a problem with alcohol after a brain injury four years earlier.

During police interview, Fleming denied the allegations and stated he had no memory of the incident. His solicitor, Eugene Burns, told the court Fleming still had no recollection. Burns said his client had indicated that if the events were true, his wife did not merit such treatment.

Fleming was sentenced to five months in prison.