A strictly Orthodox man convicted of clubbing his wife with a pink Croc sandal failed to appear in court for sentencing on Friday. He was arrested at the weekend and will now appear on March 1.

Solomon Glausiusz, 42, of Stamford Hill, who attacked his wife of 14 years, Yerusha, while he was holding their baby daughter, was convicted after a trial last year.

The unemployed father of six pleaded not guilty and said the attack, in June 2009, had been in self-defence. He was due in Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday to be sentenced for actual bodily harm.

He complained that he could not be in court because of Shabbat, despite the Recorder promising that the sentencing would be completed by 2.15pm.

Mr Glausiusz's wife has since returned to her native Holland with her children and been granted a religious divorce.