A Jehovah's Witness was attacked by her husband who feared she was going to cancel Christmas, a court has heard.

Jason Mortimore struck his wife Rachael in the face three times with a magazine before burning her Bible and other religious documents in a garden incinerator.

Mortimore, 46, admitted racially aggravated assault and criminal damage at Exeter magistrates court. He was fined a total of £666 but the court did not impose a restraining order on him.

The court heard that the couple had been married for 12 years and have three children.

In November Mortimore saw that his wife, who "has returned to her faith of Jehovah Witness", had thrown away some Christmas brochures and he assumed she was not going to celebrate the festivities.

Before she could explain he hit her with a magazine around the face, prosecutor Warjinder Sadeghi said.

A few days later they had a row and she woke up to find him burning her Bible and other religious documents in a garden incinerator.

Mortimore also dumped other religious leaflets in their recycling bin.

He denied the offences in police interview but said their relationship was under strain and he did not want their children to be influenced by her religion.