Husband denies beating his wife and throwing bleach in her face claiming 'she has a habit of throwing herself down the stairs'

• St Prix Rosemond, 30, is accused of repeatedly beating his wife at their home
• Rosemond, from Thamesmead, south London, allegedly threw bleach in her face
• The 30-year is accused of abusing the mother of their two children for 14 months

A husband accused of repeatedly beating his wife and throwing bleach in her face claimed she had a habit of throwing herself down the stairs, a court heard.

St Prix Rosemond, 30, allegedly abused the mother of their two children, Natasha Romain, over a 14-month period at their home in Thamesmead, south east London.

Rosemond used a hunting knife to terrify her, beating her over the eye with the handle and holding it to her throat telling her he would kill her, jurors heard.

He cornered her and threw sink deblocker into her face, leaving her with burning skin, which she later told doctors was a rash.

Ms Romain documented her injuries by taking pictures of herself on her phone and keeping an 'abuse diary.'

Rosemond faces five counts of assault causing actual bodily harm, as well as administering a noxious substance, and making threats to kill.

When he was arrested on June 7 he made what prosecutor Tim Forster called an 'extraordinary' claim in his police interview.

Rosemond said his wife had mental health problems and would throw herself down the stairs when she did not want him to go out.

Mr Forster told Snaresbrook Crown Court: 'On 14 April she says he punched her in the leg, face and cheek.

'She can't remember the reason for that, it was just an example of that random violence she was subjected to by her husband.

'Another time he held a hunter's knife to her throat and threatened to kill her, resulting in the marks on her throat.

'On another occasion he used the handle of the knife to hit her over the eye and tried to strangle her, leaving the red marks on her neck.

'She wrote on her phone, describing the violence to herself. You may think count six is the most serious charge. He threw bleach on her face.

'He came home and when she was in the kitchen looking after their youngest child, he went to the cupboard and got some drain unblocker.

'He cornered her, unscrewed the lid and threw it on the right side of her face. She went to the doctors and said she had a rash. Mr Rosemond was arrested and interview on 7 June.

'He denied all allegations of violence and said he and his wife had a brilliant relationship, other than the fact that argued.' 

Rosemond, of Thamesmead, denies five counts of assault, one of sending malicious communication, threat to kill and one count of administering a poison or noxious substance.

The trial continues.