s 43 Sections 38 to 41: exception for spouses and civil partners
(1) Conduct by a person (A) which would otherwise be an offence under any of sections 38 to 41 against another person (B) is not an offence under that section if at the time— (a) B is 16 or over, and (b) A and B are lawfully married or civil partners of each other . (2) In proceedings for such an offence it is for the defendant to prove that A and B were at the time lawfully married or civil partners of each other .