FORMER radio presenter Suzie McGuire has described to a court how she used heavy make-up to hide the injuries she suffered from her husband's alleged beatings.

The former Clyde One DJ said she applied the make-up after two assaults in late 2009, allegedly carried out by her husband Derek Mitchell at their home in Eagles-ham, East Renfrewshire and in a car park.

Mr Mitchell has pleaded not guilty to the charges at Paisley Sheriff Court.

The court heard yesterday how Ms McGuire claimed he had grabbed her by the throat, lifting her up on her feet before hitting her head on a mirror.

One month later, on Christmas Eve, Ms McGuire said that she suffered a badly bitten face and bruised neck after she was throttled by her husband in a Glasgow car park.

She told the court that she had a bruise on her cheek for several days after the second incident.

Ms McGuire said she managed to cover up the signs of the altercation, saying: "I put heavy make-up on to hide the injuries.

"There was no broken skin. There was a purple bruise that went yellow after a few days."

The 45-year-old said she did not go to hospital about her injuries as it was Christmas and she wanted to spend time with her children.

She said: "It was the worst experience ever. I was distraught.

"It was Christmas Day, I'm not leaving my children to go to hospital.

"I would never go to A&E with a bite mark on my face that had been caused by my partner.

"My mum was crying on Christmas Day when she saw my face and my neck."

She told the court that she still had pictures of her injuries on her mobile phone.

Under cross examination by Mr Mitchell's lawyer Billy Lavelle, Ms McGuire, 45, told the court: "It was getting beyond any normal relationship.

"I was in a very psychologically damaging relationship and I was in fear of my life at this point."

She said she was terrified of Mr Mitchell and did not make "sensible decisions" following the assault.

She added: "I had been bitten, savaged on the cheek, and held up by the throat in Mitchell Street car park.

"I am on oath and I swear on my four children's lives that's absolutely the case."

The court heard that Ms McGuire, who left her post as Clyde One's drive-time host last month, called the police because of the alleged November 2009 assault.

However, the DJ said she did not tell police at the time exactly what had happened, telling them that she and her husband had fallen out instead of saying he assaulted her.

She denied lying about being attacked by Derek Mitchell, describing herself as "a battered wife".

She explained: "I panicked, like many women in my situation have before me.

"I recoiled in horror at the actual reality of the police arriving and what happens next.

"The last place you want a police officer is in your lounge.

"I had been assaulted on that occasion and I was in fear and alarmed and I phoned the police for the right reasons as any woman should do if they are in that situation."

Ms McGuire added: "I spent four years trying to avoid where we are today by hiding, taking back my pleas for help under absolute fear of what comes next.

"I did not want Derek to suffer. I didn't want him to go down the channels we are going down today.

"I just wanted him out of my life and out of my children's lives. It was a truly horrific attack."

McGuire also alleged the accountant had "commandeered" her finances while keeping his own a secret from her.

She said she had no idea that the 35-year-old accountant, who was at college when they first got together, had a student loan.

Mr Mitchell denies numerous assaults on McGuire, damaging her car, threatening her and following her between March 2009 and October last year.

The trial continues.