A YOUNG father stabbed his wife in the shoulder with a penknife during a row.

Aktar Ali turned on Amina Begum at the home they shared with her family in Leigh Road, Wimborne on September 9 last year.

It was initially decided that Ms Begum wouldn't make a complaint to police. However, she eventually needed hospital treatment for the injury and police were informed.

Ryan Seneviratne, prosecuting at Poole Magistrates' Court, said the couple, who met in March 2014 and were married in December of that year, had faced "issues within the marriage which led to arguments between them".

"They moved to Dorset to stay with her uncle and his family," he said.

"In September 2016, she and the defendant had an argument. She said he needed to take responsibility for his daughter and if he didn't, she would leave.

"He said, 'I'm going to kill you'. He stabbed her in the left shoulder."

Ali "begged" Ms Begum's uncle not to call police, and a decision was taken not to inform officers, Mr Seneviratne said.

"It was against their culture. The most senior male takes the decision in the best interests [of the family]," he said.

When police were eventually called, Ali admitted he had "lost his temper and had anger issues", the court heard.

Ms Begum sustained a small puncture wound that did not require stitches.

In mitigation, Kashif Khan said Ali, 22, does not accept threatening to kill Ms Begum. The defendant also said there is no history of abuse or violence in their relationship, it was heard.

"He is a young man who was born and brought up in Bangladesh. His father brought him to this country when he was 10," Mr Khan said.

Ms Begum "tried to degrade" Ali and "treated him as if he were some kind of second class citizen" because he wasn't born in the UK, the solicitor claimed.

"Things became heated on the day in question and he used his penknife in a way he would ordinarily not do," he said.

"He is not a young man who uses violence. He does not use weapons."

Ali, now of Ellesmere Road in Benwell, Newcastle, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The defendant, who has no previous convictions, will appear before magistrates again on June 21 to be sentenced.

The National Domestic Violence Helpline, a freephone 24-hour service, is available on 0808 200 0247.

Those who call the helpline will be given advice and support. Volunteers may also refer callers to emergency accommodation.

There are translation facilities available if the caller's first language isn't English.