The Recorder of York, Judge Sean Morris, warned Ryan Philip Warren that unless he stopped drinking, he could kill someone.
Lydia Pearce, prosecuting, said the 25-year-old with a history of violence and public order offences demanded the husband hand over the phone the couple were using to navigate their way around the city centre.
When the husband refused, Warren started throwing punches and when the wife intervened, he grabbed her arms with such force that he bruised her.
The thug claimed he needed the phone to make a phone call or send a message but later told police he had a phone of his own.
The wife told police later: “Since this incident I cannot sleep, and I think about what could have happened. It ruined our anniversary celebrations.”
Warren, of Long Close Lane, Walmgate, pleaded guilty to attempted theft and affray.
His barrister Rhianydd Clement told York Crown Court he had told her he had numerous mental health problems including autism, dyslexia, borderline personality disorder, paranoia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
He had previously been suicidal and a week before the sentencing had been hit by a bus that had left him with a cut to his head, lower back pain and exacerbated an existing condition of his elbow.
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