A 72-YEAR-OLD man from Harpenden has pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife of 50 years.

John Rogers, of Beeching Close, assaulted his wife Heather, 70, on October 23 after an argument over a meal she had prepared.

Rogers, who was convicted of an assault on his wife in June 2009, was thought to have been drinking as his wife noted his face was flushed as it normally was after he’d had alcohol.

As the argument escalated and a plate of food fell to the floor, Mrs Rogers grew frightened and went to call the police but her husband forcibly prevented her from making the phone call, grabbing her wrist.

She fled to the bedroom and attempted to dial 999 with her mobile phone but Rogers began attacking his wife and they ended up struggling on the floor.

When Mrs Rogers got through to the police, her husband got up and began tidying the flat. Her top was torn and she was left bruised and shaken.

In a statement read out by her solicitor, Mrs Rogers said that she had given him a second chance after the last assault and allowed him to move back in last year but would not be giving him another.

She also said that she believed her husband had an alcohol problem and was secretly drinking in his garage.

She added that whilst she still had feelings for him after 50 years of marriage she couldn’t believe he had done this again after all the trouble they’d been through. The case was adjourned for a full pre-sentence report until November 25.