Naked bride fled beating by husband at top hotel

A NEWLYWED wife ran naked and hysterical through a luxury hotel after her husband beat her up in their room, a court heard yesterday.

Melissa Kirby, a former contestant on TV show Come Dine With Me, was repeatedly punched by Alexander Tulloch, who then pinned her to the bed with his knees and pressed his hand on her mouth and nose.

The pair tied the knot in Mauritius and returned home to Inverness to treat family and friends to a reception and blessing ceremony.

But Tulloch, 37, a £40,000-a-year offshore electrical engineer, is now facing jail after he admitted assaulting his bride.

The incident happened on February 2 in the Kingsmills Hotel in Inverness, where the couple were spending the night.

Fiscal depute Kelly Mitchell told Inverness Sheriff Court: ‘She made a comment about his sister and his son, which upset him.

‘He began punching her. He pinned her arms with his knees, put his hand over her mouth and nose and she was struggling to breathe.

‘She managed to wriggle free and ran to hotel reception.

‘She was completely naked and hysterical.’

Defence solicitor Marc Dickson said Tulloch ‘immediately admitted what he had done’, adding: ‘ He deeply regrets and is horrified about what happened.’

Placing Tulloch on bail with a condition that he does not approach his bride, Sheriff Andrew Webster said: ‘Custody is a distinct possibility here.’

Tulloch will be sentenced on May 8.