A woman has told a court of years of sexual and physical abuse she allegedly suffered at the hands of her husband.

Her 41-year-old husband, who cannot be named for legal reasons to protect his wife's identity, is one of the first men in Northern Ireland to face trial accused of raping his own wife.

On Monday, Downpatrick Crown Court heard that for a decade the Belfast man allegedly regularly beat his wife and raped her to "teach her a lesson" because she did not respect him.

The woman told the court her husband claimed he could do anything to her because it was his right as a married man and although she left him twice she returned to him following his pleas for forgiveness and promises never to attack her again.

She claimed matters came to a head in August 1998 on the eve of a family holiday when her husband returned home drunk in the early hours and beat her before twice raping her.

After her alleged ordeal she said she managed to telephone for the police while her husband tended to their young daughter.

Her husband faces a total of 17 charges including seven of rape, eight of assault and two of attempting to cause and inflict grievous bodily harm between December 1988 and August 1998.

The case continues