An Ipswich man accused of assaulting his wife and imprisoning her in their flat has been cleared by a jury.

Before Ipswich Crown Court was Nyarai Nengomasha, 41, formerly of Siloam Place, who denied two offences of assault by beating, false imprisonment and causing danger to road users by interfering with a car.

He was cleared of all four offences after a three day trial.

He admitted driving while disqualified and driving without insurance and was banned from driving for six months and fined £250.

Charles Kellett, prosecuting, said the couple, who had been married since 2011, had a good relationship until May last when Mrs Nengomasha started a new job.

He described Nengomasha as “somewhat controlling” and said his wife thought he was jealous about her new job and friends.

The court heard that in June last year Mrs Nengomasha visited a friend and while she was there her husband had turned up and had allegedly slapped her face during an argument.

On July 1 last year Mrs Nengomasha came back to their flat after a night out and her husband had allegedly grabbed her phone and started looking at her messages.

As she went to leave the flat Nengomasha had allegedly tried to stop her leaving and snatched the flat key and her car keys.

Mrs Nengimasha managed to get to a communal area and shout for help but was allegedly pushed back into the flat by her husband.

He then ordered her to drive to a friend’s house but during the journey he changed his mind and allegedly grabbed the handbrake and “yanked” it up.

The couple went back to their flat and when Mrs Nengomasha tried to leave her husband had allegedly physically stopped her by blocking her way out of the door.

He had also allegedly produced a knife and threatened to stab her in the stomach, said Mr Kellett.

Mrs Nengomasha had contacted the police and pictures were taken of a number of injuries including bruises on her arms and behind her ear.

After his arrest Nengomasha told officers his wife’s allegations were “a pack of lies”.

“He said Danielle was setting him up and was prepared to tell lies to the police to get him into trouble,” said Mr Kellett.

Giving evidence Nengomasha, who is now living in St Helen’s Street, Ipswich, denied all the allegations made by his wife.