A father-of-11 brutally attacked a woman because he could not find a matching pair of socks, a court was told.

Nathan Pulman admitted a catalogue of abuse against the 38-year-old woman in areas such as Invergordon, Kinloch Rannoch, Inverness, Laurencekirk, Fyvie, Stonehaven, Forres, Elgin and Perth over a 10-year-period.

Prosecutor Bill MacVicar said: "Repeated assaults were committed by the accused on the woman.

"On some of the occasions she was pregnant."

The woman described Pulman, 42, as a "Jekyll and Hyde" character and said he would regularly accuse her of lying and then become angrier when she denied this and assault her.

After the beatings he would buy her teddy bears and flowers, but after a short period the violence would start up again.

One of the beatings took place in Dr Gray's Hospital in Elgin where the woman had been admitted for surgery.

Pulman seized her by the head, hair and body, and slapped, punched, and kicked her during the attacks.

Mr MacVicar added: "She was struck on the head and body with belts shoes, a dog chain, household items and garden implements.

"The beatings could be for any reason such as the accused not having a matching pair of socks.

"She was frequently made to stand outdoors in inclement weather, including snow, for lengthy periods of time without adequate clothing.

"He also hit her while he was driving.

"Serious injuries including broken bones were inflicted and she is left with scars."

The court heard that on one occasion she was made to sit in snow for a lengthy period while the accused shouted and swore at her.

She was eventually let back in to make his evening meal.

Another time Pulman tied a rope to a beam and told her to put her head in the noose in order to end her life by stepping off a table.

After he traumatised her, he then told her not to do it.

When his boots went missing Pulman blamed the woman and slapped her twice across the face and kicked her legs repeatedly.

Mr MacVicar added: "In 2005 at a house in Kinloch Rannoch Mr Pulman began shouting that there was washing to be done.

"When she tried to pick up the washing he punched and kicked her.

"One blow caused her nose to bleed and she had to have an operation and spent three days in hospital."

In January 2006 the accused knocked tubes off a seven foot high shelving unit and ordered the woman to put them back up.

She stood on an office chair with wheels and Pulman kicked away the chair.

The victim broke both wrists in the fall.

On another occasion Pulman lost his temper and threw a mug full force at the woman cutting her nose, left eyelid and left cheekbone.

Pulman admitted assaulting the woman to her permanent disfigurement.

His pleas of not guilty to other charges including sexually assaulting the woman were accepted by the Crown.

Pulman also admitted assaulting two children.

Lord Matthews deferred sentence until next month for background reports.

Pulman, who is in custody, was jailed for nine years in 2013 at Mold Crown Court in Wales for violence against women.