A JEALOUS husband saw red when he went round to his estranged wife's home expecting to make up -- but she was with her boyfriend and snubbed him.

Burnley magistrates heard how drunken Craig Vincent Cheetham, 32, then set about smashing up what he thought was the boyfriend's car with his walking stick, but it turned out to be an innocent neighbour's, who ended up with a £1,000 bill for damage.

Cheetham, of Longworth Avenue, Burnley, who at first said it was nothing to do with him, was fined £100, with £1,000 compensation and £55 costs, after admitting damage. Tom Snape, prosecuting, said the defendant was seen holding a wooden instrument about two and half feet long. He approached the Rover car and a witness heard a smashing sound.

He then returned to a car and sped off. When the defendant was later arrested and interviewed, he denied any part in damaging the car and said he had been at home all day.

David Rogers, defending, said Cheetham had been married to his wife Sharon for two years.

She had moved out of the family home. They had reconciled although were not living together and enjoyed a good relationship until about eight weeks ago.

About three weeks ago Mrs Cheetham told her husband she had been seeing somebody else at the same time and he was very upset.

On the day of the offence, the defendant had had about 12 pints of cider and had received two text messages asking him to go round to her home.

He thought she had changed her mind about her boyfriend and wanted a reconciliation.