A husband is accused of leaving his 23-stone wife trapped in a bath for almost two weeks before she died of pneumonia, a court has heard.

Gunter S, 58, from north west Germany, allegedly heard wife Simone W slip and fall in their bathroom on June 14 this year, before finding her unconscious in the tub.

But rather than help her out he left her there until June 27 when he finally called emergency services, who found she had already been dead for two days.

Gunter S, 58, a docker from north west Germany, is accused of leaving 23-stone wife Simone W to die in a bathtub after she slipped and fell

Prosecutors say he ignored her cries for help and allowed her to die, but Gunter rejected their claims during a court appearance last week.

He says his wife was perfectly happy in the bath and that he brought her coffee every morning, fed her snacks and cleaned the tub, which she kept topped up with warm water.

Gunter said he found her in the bath having hit her head on a shelf, when she was laying down with shards of glass all around her.

But when he tried to help, he claims she waved him off, saying she was fine.

He says he then brought her a mobile phone and her tablet computer, telling her to get help for herself if she wanted it, adding: 'You don't want it from me, anyway.'

Asked by the judge whether or not he was worried for her, Gunter replied that 'she said she was fine and looked the same as always,' Bild reported.

'She did not let herself be helped, mind your own frigging business,' local media reported him as saying.

During his eventual emergency call, he reportedly told officers: 'My wife is out for suicide. She's 230 kilos, so bring strong people.'

At the time of her death Simone weighed around 148kg and stood at 5ft 2ins. It is believed she died of pneumonia.

The case has been adjourned until January.