A WORCESTER man became convinced his wife was having an affair, as they watched an England football match.

Andrew Taylor started arguing with his wife in the pub and continued the row when they reached home last Saturday, November 10.

Droitwich magistrates were told Taylor threatened neighbours when they intervened at their home in Goldsmith Road, Warndon.

"Paul Birch, who lives next door, heard the sound of raised voices coming from his neighbour's garden around 7pm," said Kiernan Cunningham, prosecuting.

"He and his wife went out and looked into the garden.

"They saw Taylor lying on his wife's legs. She was pinned to the ground and clearly distressed. She was screaming at him to get off her."

The court heard that Mrs Taylor's parents were also present, and her father, Douglas Pugh, tried to intervene.

"At that point the defendant tried to fend him off," said Mr Cunningham.

Mrs Taylor escaped into the Birch's garden but her husband dragged her father-in-law by his hair.

The neighbours had called the police but, before they arrived, Taylor peered over the wall .

"He shouted 'I'll have you tomorrow morning'," said Mr Cunningham.

"He said 'I'm going to pour petrol through your letterbox and I'll torch the lot of you'.

"Mr Birch and his wife were frightened by the incident."

Thirty-five-year-old Taylor admitted a charge of affray.

"He feels extremely ashamed and remorseful over his actions," said Dale Sheehan, defending.

"They had been in the local pub drinking since lunchtime. He had drunk double what he would normally drink, eight or nine pints.

"He thought his wife was seeing someone else while at the pub.

"The argument developed to such an extent he was trying to force his wife to leave.

"He had no clear intention to carry out the threat. They were words said in the heat of the moment. In a nutshell this was a domestic.

"Since then they've wanted to reconcile. This is a one-off incident and he's certainly learnt his lesson."

Magistrates fined Taylor £250 and ordered he pay £118 court costs.