A MAN in a drunken rage with his ex-wife bit through the telephone wires to stop her calling police.

Blackburn magistrates heard that at one stage David Ainsworth grabbed his former partner by the throat and banged her head against the wall.

He also took hold of his 14-year-old son by the neck and slapped him around the head and smashed furniture and ornaments.

Helen Ainsworth later told police that he had been "like a madman, completely out of control" and that both she and her son had been "petrified".

Ainsworth, 43, of Accrington Road, Blackburn, had previously been convicted in his absence of affray and assault committed in January of last year. He was made subject to a community rehabilitation order for 18 months and ordered to pay £120 costs and £138 compensation.

Clare Fanning, prosecuting, said at the time of the incident the couple had been separated for 13 years and officially divorced for 10 years. They were still on good terms and Ainsworth would occasionally visit.

She and her son had gone to bed and Ainsworth knocked on the door.

"She could tell he had been drinking but invited him in because he didn't appear to be aggressive in any way," said Miss Fanning. She said the son got up and went to give Ainsworth a kiss good night but Ainsworth pushed him away.

"The boy was upset and went to bed," said Miss Fanning. "Ainsworth said he wanted to stay the night but was told he couldn't and was asked to leave."

He became aggressive. When she threatened to call the police Ainsworth said he would kill her by the time they arrived.

When the son came down and asked why his dad was shouting Ainsworth said "What's he going to do?" and tried to get past Mrs Ainsworth to get at the boy. She blocked him before moving to the telephone.

"He pulled the phone away from her before gnawing through the wires and throwing the handset to the floor. Mrs Ainsworth ran upstairs to get her mobile and heard her son shout: "Get him off me."

When she came back the boy was on the settee and Ainsworth was holding him by the throat as he slapped him across the top of the head. She managed to push him off before Ainsworth kicked a table in the air smashing glass all over the room.

He smashed another table and threatened Mrs Ainsworth with a pottery ornament.

"She described herself as petrified and hysterical and she could see that her son was also very scared," said Miss Fanning. "She was scared that Ainsworth would hurt her son if she didn't get him out of the house."

Stephen Parker, defending, said Ainsworth had always denied the charges and had missed his trial date because he had moved to Spain with his new partner after his ex-wife indicated she was not proceeding with the allegations.

"He returned from Spain in April of this year believing the trial had not taken place," said Mr Parker. He said Ainsworth works in the building trade and his son had worked with him throughout the summer.

"Whatever happened on this night they are clearly reconciled and he is also on regular speaking terms with his ex-wife," added Mr Parker.