Controlling Peter Adams splashed out beyond his means on himself while keeping a tight grip on what his wife was allowed to buy.

Adams met his future wife through their Jehovah's Witness faith when she was 17 and he was 28 and they began dating when she turned 18, a court heard.

But their marriage turned sour, with Adams exerting "complete control of the family finances" and his partner only allowed to use a card to do grocery shopping.

Meanwhile "due to the excessive spending of the defendant on himself", debts of £10,000 were accrued in both of their names.

Newcastle Crown Court heard he was out most evenings and would eat in restaurants without his wife and child.

And after one argument he locked her in their home and when she tried to climb out of the bathroom window, he prevented her from doing so.

Adams, 37, of Hollymount Avenue, Bedlington, Northumberland, pleaded guilty to controlling or coercive behaviour between December 2015 and December 2018 on a limited basis.

Sentencing him, Judge Robert Adams said: "You accept during the relationship you were irresponsible with money and you would live beyond your means.

"You controlled the account and used the complainant's money as your own.

"She would seek permission before spending money.

"Throughout the marriage she said you took complete control of the family finances."

The judge said "broader allegations" had initially been made but were not pursued.

He added: "Clearly she describes the relationship causing a considerable detrimental effect on her and her welfare."

Prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw said: "The defendant and complainant met through their religious faith, both were Jehovah's Witnesses when she was 17 and he was 11 years older than her.

"They began dating when she turned 18 and later got married."

He added that Adams and the woman were working and her money was paid into the joint account which Adams controlled.

Mr Wardlaw said: "He accepted using her money as his own and he would not allow her access to the bank account.

"While she had a bank card, she had to seek his permission before spending money."

He added: "The complainant had a card to do the grocery shopping but was only allowed to use the card for that.

"Due to the excessive spending of the defendant on himself, he accrued debts of £10,000 in both their names

They ended up moving in with her parents due to their credit card debts and Adams entered into an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) to avoid bankruptcy.

Mr Wardlaw said: "The mother of the complainant loaned them £10,000 which was repaid.

"She said while they lived with her he was rarely at home.

"He was out most evenings until the early evening and was eating in restaurants without his wife and child."

When he was interviewed by police, Adams said she didn't need permission to use the money, denied locking her in the house and said he had pulled her back through the bathroom window to stop her committing suicide.

But Judge Adams said: "Clearly you have now admitted your criminal behaviour."

Adams was sentenced to a two-year community order with a restraining order.

David Carmichael, defending, said Adams had no previous convictions and is working.

He added: "It's accepted the relationship between them has had a detrimental impact on her but not all of the matters in relation to her emotional state rest at the door of the defendant and his conduct."

The court heard Adams is classed as a low risk of re-offending and a medium risk of harm to his former partner.