A MAN who knocked out his wife when he was drunk has been sentenced.

Thomas Nimmo, 65, who has recently been living in Kilmarnock, appeared in the dock at Alloa Sheriff Court.

He admitted that on July 21 at his home in Baingle Crescent, Tullibody, he assaulted his wife by striking her to the face causing her to lose consciousness.

Depute fiscal Katherine Fraser previously told the court that the couple had been out in their garden enjoying the sunshine during the day.

By 8.30pm Nimmo had finished off a litre bottle of rum by himself and fell over into a bush.

An argument then started between Nimmo and his wife, which led to him slapping her on the face causing her to fall over.

A neighbour saw the incident through a window and went into the house where Nimmo’s wife was lying unconscious for several minutes.

Sheriff Craig Harris said: “This was an isolated incident and a high degree of remorse has been expressed.”

He imposed a community payback order with 70 hours of unpaid work.