An English deputy High Court judge who'd been due to fly to the Isle of Man for a week-long sitting instead found himself arrested and charged with assaulting his wife.

James Allen QC, 62, was accused of beating his wife of 14 years, Melanie, at their Wakefield home in February last year.

But giving evidence yesterday (Wednesday), Mr Allen told the court his wife had a history of self-harm and had punched herself in the face three times during a 'heated' argument.

That was backed up by Mrs Allen, who claimed she hit herself in the face with clenched fists out of sheer frustration in the hope he would not go.

The court was told the row began because Mrs Allen had spent 90 minutes comforting their cleaner – whose mum had been diagnosed with cancer – instead of making Mr Allen's supper.

The case continues.