A JEALOUS father-of-six who assaulted his former partner when they met on his birthday has been told to get his drink problem sorted out. John Smith head butted Lorraine Hart, pushed her into railings and told her: I am going to get a gun and shoot you …

A JEALOUS father-of-six who assaulted his former partner when they met on his birthday has been told to get his drink problem sorted out.

John Smith head butted Lorraine Hart, pushed her into railings and told her: "I am going to get a gun and shoot you ... make sure your doors are locked."

That incident happened back in March, when Smith had been drinking before he met Ms Hart and three of their young children, and one of the youngsters was injured during the fracas.

Then last month Smith was drunk when he was caught stealing four cans of strong lager from the Spar shop in Ely, and was abusive to staff who confronted him and retrieved the stolen alcohol. He had only limited memory of both incidents.

"We want your drink problem to be addressed," presiding magistrate Susan Thompson told Smith as she gave him an 18-month supervision order. "You may feel it is not a problem, but it is a problem when you cannot remember things."

Smith, who had admitted assault and theft, was ordered to carry out 190 hours of unpaid work, and pay £60 costs.

At the birthday meeting, 41-one-year-old Smith, of Archery Crescent, Ely, had quizzed Ms Hart about who she had been seeing since their parting, said prosecutor Francesca Devine.

Before stealing the alcohol, Smith had already drunk six cans of strong lager.

Solicitor Michael Judkins said Smith had been devastated when his 22-year relationship with Ms Hart ended, resulting in an attempted suicide.

"He admits having a jealous disposition," he said. "He asked if she had another man, he was obsessive. He now accepts the relationship has ended. He wants to get on with his life; he has made a mess of it in the last year or so.