A husband locked his wife in their shed because she wouldn’t stop singing “ding dong, the witch is dead” after his mother died.
Andrew Salmon, 42, packed up his wife Beverley’s belongings and refused to let her into their home in Cornwall, Truro Magistrates’ Court heard.
Furious Andrew told her: “It is my house now – you are not getting in.”
When she took refuge in the garden shed he locked her inside but she managed to climb out of a window.
The defendant told magistrates he locked her in the shed after she kept saying: “Ding dong, the witch is dead.”
She then let herself into their house, but Salmon tried to drag her out by her feet, city magistrates heard.
Mrs Salmon managed to fight her way upstairs and began throwing her husband’s clothes out of the window, according to West Briton.
He responded by holding her down by her throat on the bed, then punching her, the court were told.
Mr Salmon suspected his wife was having an affair and regretted everything he did, reports say.
He also told police he was depressed and unhappy that his wife had not been supportive enough over the death of his mother.
Salmon, who had no previous convictions, admitted assaulting Mrs Salmon on February 6.
Sentencing was adjourned for a probation report.
