A MAN who smothered his wife and threatened her with a knife has been spared an immediate jail term – because she thinks their marriage could still succeed, York Crown Court heard.

Stephen Lyons, 27, accused Chloe Lyons of going out with other men behind his back, and monitored her mobile phone and her Facebook account, said Tom Storey, prosecuting.

On July 11, he pressed a pillow repeatedly on to her face and she lost consciousness, then he grabbed her by the neck and kicked her in the head several times.

She continued to live with him, but on October 10 after an argument, she fled to her mother’s.

He told her to choose between her parent and himself and apologised. She returned to their home where he hit her, told her to “stop crying or he would give her something to cry about”, threatened her with a knife and told her: “Don’t think I won’t stab you,” the barrister said.

Recorder David Hatton QC told Lyons: “You are clearly a man of a considerable temper, of a jealous nature and a controlling character.”

He jailed him for 11 months, but suspended the sentence for two years after reading a letter from Mrs Lyons.

The judge told Lyons: “There remains a prospect that your marriage will survive, having regard to the contents of the letter from your wife. Should this prove not to be and should you repeat the behaviour you have demonstrated previously, not only will your marriage certainly be over, but you will be going to prison to serve this sentence.”

He also ordered Lyons to undertake two years’ supervision, go on a probation service rehabilitation course for wife-beaters and do 180 hours’ unpaid work.

Lyons, now of Johnson Street, Selby, pleaded guilty to causing Mrs Lyons actual bodily harm, assaulting her and affray.

The couple’s home is in Hambleton.

His barrister, Taryn Turner, said Lyons had no previous convictions for assault and realised he had to control his temper.