The husband of a Faversham B&B owner was treated “like a slave” by his wife, it has been alleged.

Clare Weston subjected hubby Simon Weston to “systematic physical and verbal abuse” just three years into their marriage, a jury has been told.

The couple had been running posh Shepherd House when it is said the 41-year-old treated her partner so badly that she wore him down to breaking point.

When he finally reported his wife to police, Mr Weston was “terribly embarrassed and ashamed” that he was being bullied by a woman, Maidstone Crown Court heard.

Weston denies engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour between December 2017 and February this year.

It is alleged she caused her husband, who she married in 2014, to fear on at least two occasions that he would be subjected to violence, and she treated him “worse than a dog”.

Prosecutor Daniel Smith alleged her abusive behaviour included punching him in the head and pushing a mug of tea in his face. It was also claimed that she booted down his locked bedroom door after he left a fridge door open.

He alleged that Mr Weston, who now lives in Scotland, was also subjected to verbal threats.

One of her rants in which she allegedly threatened to break his neck was recorded by Mr Weston on his phone.

The prosecutor told the jury: “Clare Weston treated her husband virtually as a slave and, on occasion, worse than a slave.”

Mr Smith said some of the incidents might appear “pretty trivial” but he was “continually punished” for them by Weston.

The court heard he could recall the exact date the abuse started - September 17, 2017 - and a total of nine incidents which left him “walking on eggshells”.

The first happened after a family lunch at their home, a Georgian townhouse in Preston Street which they had converted into a hotel in 2015.

Mr Weston was doing household chores but was allegedly admonished by his wife when he moved her mobile phone.

Mr Stevenson claimed: “She lost her temper over that minor misdemeanour, shouting at him and punching him in the face.”

The court heard of several other occasions when Mr Weston was allegedly punched in the face by his wife, and also kneed in the groin after he boiled water for a cup of tea using the “wrong” kettle.

The trial continues.

For information on how we can report on court proceedings, click here.

To read more of our in depth coverage of all of the major trials coming out of crown and magistrates' courts across the county, click here.

Read more: All the latest news from Faversham