A battered husband installed a hidden camera in his home to film his wife attacking him as he feared police wouldn’t believe him, a court has heard.

Neil Tweedy, 45, had endured violence from wife Helen since 2005, including an assault on their wedding night in 2008 where she kicked, punched and smothered him with a duvet, before making him sleep on the sofa.

Defence lawyer James Street told the court that school teacher Mrs Tweedy had “significant mental health problems” caused by binge drinking.

Mr Tweedy eventually reported the crimes after Mrs Tweedy continued the abuse after the birth of their daughter, now four.

The victim secretly recorded the assaults at the couple's £200,000 semi-detached home in Greater Manchester because he was afraid that police would not believe him without evidence. Over a two-month period three incidents of Mrs Tweedy slapping her husband over the head and swearing at him were caught on camera, once in front of their daughter.

The couple met 16 years ago and appeared happy to family and friends. Facebook pictures showed them holidaying in Amsterdam and the Greek island of Zakynthos.