AN alcoholic who subjected his wife to controlling behaviour for years before threatening to stab strangers if she left the house has been spared jail.

Brian Walters limited Tracy Bedford’s contact with family and friends and made her life a misery with extreme mood swings, Basildon Crown Court heard.

The 46-year-old was arrested when armed police swooped on their home in Somerset Road, Basildon, in March this year.

Walters is one of the first people in Essex to be convicted of the offence since it was created in December.

Cyrus Shroff, prosecuting, said the couple had been married for 11 years but Walters was a “functioning alcoholic” who was badly affected by the death of his mother six years ago.

He said: “On March 26 Ms Bedford was driving to Chelmsford to see her son. The defendant was extremely critical of her route, suggesting that she wasn’t going the most direct way.

“He became extremely aggressive towards her and while they were still moving he tried to get out. She described herself as being shaken up and she eventually managed to stop.

“He then asked if she was okay and suggested that she may need to see a doctor and get some medication.”

That evening, Walters started playing loud music downstairs while Ms Bedford tried to stay out of his way.

She came downstairs and tried to leave the house but Walters blocked her path, clutching a carving knife and a barbecue fork.

He then told her: “You are not going anywhere. If you leave this house I’m going to go out and hurt the next person I come across.”

Ms Bedford believed him and remained in the house. The next day she confided in colleagues and her son later called the police.

Chris Whitcombe, mitigating, said Walters accepted his guilt and did not want to put Ms Bedford through the ordeal of coming to court. He added: “She has put up with an awful lot.”

Judge Samantha Leigh told Walters: “You wanted to know where she was and she had the feeling of not being able to spend time with her family.”

Walters was handed a three-year community order which will involve taking part in a relationships course and completing a course with the probation service.