A DISTRAUGHT husband who attacked a love rival with a parrot perch has been spared jail.

Carl Quiney drove to a house in Evesham where his estranged wife, Jennifer, was having lunch with postman Martin Abbott, Worcester Crown Court heard.

He produced a knife when Mr Abbott tried to close his car door and then hit him on the head and back with a 30in length of timber he bought for a parrot perch.

Quiney, who worked for an engineering firm, drove off, but gave himself up to police two days later, said prosecutor Jeremy Wright.

The victim suffered a cut forehead and a laceration on the side of his head.

Unlawful wounding

Quiney, aged 41, of Salters Lane, Pershore, admitted unlawful wounding and was ordered to pay Mr Abbott £2,000 compensation.

He was also given 100 hours community work, a two-year community rehabilitation order and told to pay £450 court costs.

Judge David McEvoy QC told the defendant he had done his best to keep his marriage going before he became violent in a fit of jealousy.

He was the sole carer of the couple's children and jail would have been "catastrophic for the family", the judge added.

Quiney turned up at his rival's address in Church Street on Tuesday, January 22, but Mr Abbott told him he was just delivering mail, said Mr Wright.

Quiney retorted: "I don't care, I'm just going to kill her." He also threatened to kill his rival who managed to snatch the penknife.

The defendant demanded to know where his wife was before battering Mr Abbott.

Defence counsel Stephen Mooney said Quiney had been a dedicated family man for many years. The couple were now divorcing.