Paul Gascoigne: a guest at The Priory

It has become renown for its work with celebrities, among them Paul Gascoigne, Michael Barrymore and Paula Yates.

"Prisoners sectioned under the Mental Health Act are assessed by independent NHS psychologists and the prisoner's medical needs are the sole deciding factor," said the Prison Service spokeswoman.

Arms arsenal

She said a centre that would normally be used in such cases was currently full and that the Priory clinic was "comparable" in cost.

Isle of Wight Crown Court heard how McGuigan first attacked his wife Sophie when she refused to have sex with him after a night out.

He was said to have broken down the bedroom door, thrown her onto the bed and hit her.

When police were called to their home a small arsenal of illegal weapons, including a pump-action shotgun and sawn-off shotgun, was found.

A wallet embossed with the logo of the loyalist group the Ulster Defence Force was also discovered.