A MAN who assaulted his wife told a court how he had called on his mosque elders to help sort out his marriage difficulties.

Mohammed Ashraf Adam told Hyndburn magistrates he had stood in front of the elders and his wife, had taken the Koran in his hand and pledged never to his wife again. And defence solicitor Roger Pickles said his client was well aware that if he ever broke his promise the Mosque would come down on him "like a ton of bricks".

Adam, 44, of Strathclyde Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to assaulting Nimmi Adam.

He was made subject to community supervision for 24 months with a condition he attends the domestic violence programme and pay £250 compensation and £150 costs.

Adam told the court how he had gone before the Mosque committee and confessed what he had done before telling his wife, in the presence of the elders, that he would never hit her again.

"The elders have told me that if there is any repetition they will support the police and the court," said Mr Adam.

"I turned to the elders for help because it is in the Koran that a man cannot hit his wife."