An Angus man was ordered to pay compensation at Forfar Sheriff Court to his wife.
Don Allen from Arbroath admitted assaulting his wife after an argument over her going to a nightclub.
Sheriff Gregor Murray told him: “If I fine you, I fine your family”, so told him to pay his wife Tracey £250 in compensation instead.
Allen, 50, of Warddykes Avenue, admitted that between September 6 and 7 at an address in Strathairlie Avenue, Arbroath, he seized his wife by the neck, pushed her to the floor and struck her on the face.
Fiscal depute Hannah Kennedy told the court that the couple had been drinking and eating at a bar on September 6.
“At 11pm that evening the complainer was wishing to attend a nightclub,” she said.
“The accused was not happy about that and made a comment about it being ‘grab a granny night’.
“The complainer decided to go home and an argument ensured in the bedroom. He seized her by the neck, pushed her to the ground and struck her face.”
Defence agent Billy Rennie, representing the oil worker, described it was a “one-off” incident.
Sheriff Murray said: “I accept you were both drunk. If I fine you, I fine your family. What I am going to do is order you to pay £250 compensation to your wife.”