Watching The Passion of the Christ sparked a furious row between a highly religious married couple, a court has heard.

Michael Watson nearly strangled his wife Patricia after they watched the Mel Gibson movie together on his birthday, magistrates were told.

Patricia told the court that, while watching the controversial DVD on his birthday, Michael pulled the plug out of the television in protest at how Jesus's death was portrayed.

"I had bought the DVD that day and we started watching it. But I got upset and left the room," she said. "After a while Michael got upset because of the way Jesus's crucifixion was portrayed. He pulled the leads from the back of the TV in anger, then went upstairs.

"Later, I wanted to watch the God Channel, but the TV would not work," she continued. "I went upstairs and we argued about it. The Devil was in the house that night."

Prosecuting lawyer Yvonne Jobling said Michael, 44, held his wife around the neck. She added: "His grip was so tight she couldn't speak. But she managed to say something of a religious nature which seemed to cause him to relax his grip."

Patricia told the court that she ordered him: "I'm anointed by God - you know that, Michael. Do not touch God's anointed."

Michael admitted he had gone too far and pleaded guilty to assault at the earliest opportunity. He was given a two-year supervised community order.