A JEALOUS Southampton man who met his wife online attacked her after their relationship turned sour, a court heard.  

Matthew Greep grabbed his victim around the mouth to stop her shouting.

During another domestic violence attack he launched his mobile phone at her leg.

Prosecution barrister, Nick Ferrari told how Greep, 29, had met his partner online in January 2020 and by March the same year the pair had already moved in together.

But after marrying by June 2021 things “turned sour” when “jealousy” got the better of the defendant.

Mr Ferrari said that the relationship was “in short, a rather unhealthy one” that “went from 0 to 100 in an extremely fast manner”.

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He told how during one argument, that “got heated”, Greep hurled his phone at his wife’s leg.

It caused “permanent cosmetic damage” and left her with a dent in her leg.

During a separate disagreement, Greep “grappled” with his wife, causing her bruising on her arm and even putting his hand around her mouth to stop her from shouting.

In a victim personal statement read out in court, Greep’s wife said the incident has left her feeling “intimidated”.

She said the abuse “did not come from a random person, but from a man I loved, adored and trusted.”

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Appearing before Southampton Crown Court, Greep was charged with two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He had previously pleaded guilty.

Defending, Alejandra Tascon said “he has accepted his responsibility. He makes no effort to shift blame onto somebody else.

“This was a very toxic relationship.”

“Mr Greep is not somebody that will be in front of this court again.”

Greep, who has now moved back in with his parents, works as an operations manager at his family’s business.

In his defence, it was argued that he helps a charity that supports disabled children.

However, Judge Christopher Parker QC said that Greep had “battered” his wife during the course of a relationship that was “categorised by jealousy”.

He said: “These offences were carried out in a domestic context. She should be protected by her husband.”

Regardless, he accepted that Greep had a “growing realisation” that he was at fault.

He jailed him for six months but suspended the sentence for 18 months.

Greep must pay £1,000 in court costs, carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and do 12 rehabilitation activity days.

He has also been handed a restraining order to continue indefinitely.

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