A GROOM who battered and bruised his new bride at their wedding reception has been sentenced to carry out unpaid work.

Melissa Kirby, who had starred as a contestant on Channel 4's "Come Dine With Me" ran naked and hysterical through their hotel after her husband beat her up in their luxury bedroom.

Police arrested newly-wed Alexander Tulloch and he has not seen his wife since the attack on February 2 because of bail conditions.

Yesterday, Sheriff Margaret Neilson ordered the £40,000-a-year offshore oil worker to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work instead of imprisoning him after he had admitted assaulting her.

His defence agent Marc Dickson told the court the 37-year-old offshore electrical engineer "bitterly regretted his actions and is extremely remorseful".

Tulloch subjected his bride to a flurry of punches on her nude body after she came to bed and made comments about some family members at the function.

The court heard he then pinned her down on the bed with his knees and twice pressed his hand down on her mouth and nose so she could barely breathe.

The incident happened in an apartment of the exclusive wing of the Kingsmills Hotel in Inverness.

Defence solicitor Marc Dickson said his client was not trying to smother his bride.

"He deeply regrets and is horrified about what happened. Only time will tell how this affects the marriage," she added. "There are considerable bridges to be built here."