[bbfan1991]

A man from Plantation, Florida has been ordered by a judge to take his wife on a date.

Judge John Hurley told Joseph Bray, 47, that as a result of a domestic violence charge - which escalated after he refused to say happy birthday to his wife - he must take her out for a meal and bowling.

He stated: "[Bray]'s going to stop by somewhere and he's going to get some flowers. And then he's going to go home, pick up his wife, get dressed [and] take her to Red Lobster.

"And then after they have Red Lobster, they're going to go bowling."

Bray reportedly pushed his wife onto a sofa and placed his hand on her neck, reports the Sun Sentinel.

The judge added: "The court would not normally do that if the court felt there was some violence, but this is very, very minor and the court felt that that was a better resolution than other alternatives."

The couple have also been instructed to attend marriage counselling.