A MAN became jealous when his ex-wife got involved with another man.

Blackburn magistrates heard that despite the fact they had been apart for four years, Michael Duxbury felt alienated.

And he became frustrated when he could not sit down and discuss the situation with his ex-wife because her boyfriend was always there.

Duxbury, 40, of Nursery Nook, Eccleshill, Lower Darwen, pleaded guilty to harassing Katherine Duxbury on various dates between May 5 and July 17. He was fined £500 and made subject to a restraining order forbidding him from contacting his ex-wife for 18 months.

Lisa Worsley, prosecuting, said Mrs Duxbury had been divorced from the defendant for three years and they had been separated for a year before that. There had been a few minor problems during that time but she had never felt it necessary to involve the police.

"In February Mrs Duxbury started a relationship with a man called Peter and since then her ex-husband's behaviour has become more threatening and abusive towards her," said Ms Worsley. "She tried to brush it aside and ignore it because she did not want to spoil the relationship between the defendant and their 15-year-old daughter."

Mrs Duxbury and her daughter went on holiday for a week and just before she went she told Duxbury about Peter. Shortly after they returned she was at home and about to leave with Peter to go for a drink when the front door burst open and Duxbury stormed into the house. She repeatedly asked him to leave but he refused.

Eventually Mrs Duxbury and her boyfriend decided to leave the house and as they passed, Duxbury threw a punch at Peter catching him on the chin.

Basharat Ditta, defending, said Duxbury's actions represented his human emotions.

"We are not machines, we are all human and have emotions," said Mr Ditta. "This is a man of previous good character whose emotions have got the better of him in recent months."

He said Duxbury had been going out with his wife since they were 17 and they had been married for 12 years before the divorce. He said the separation had been amicable and they had continued to act as a family unit despite the fact the couple had gone their separate ways.