A judge warned a man, who punched his ex-wife's new partner, that unless he stopped drinking he was going to lead a miserable life.

Simon Pegg, 52, smashed a glass panel in the front door at the Norwich address of his ex-wife and when her new partner came to the door he punched him in the face causing bruising and a nose bleed, Norwich Crown Court heard.

Oliver Haswell, prosecuting, said that Pegg, who has a long standing alcohol problem, had called uninvited at the home of his ex-wife.

He said despite them being kind to Pegg and allowing him to stay at their home for a while, by midnight they ordered him a taxi and told him to leave.

Mr Haswell said Pegg, who was obviously under the influence of alcohol, returned and despite them ordering another taxi to try to get him to return to his home, Pegg refused to leave and smashed a glass panel in the door and then punched the new partner, when he came to the door.

Pegg was arrested with the help of a police dog when officers arrived on the scene.

Mr Haswell said that fortunately the victim of the assault by Pegg did not suffer any fractures.

Pegg, of Elizabeth Fry Road, Norwich, admitted assault by beating and criminal damage on June 4, last year, and was jailed four months suspended for two years and ordered to pay £100 compensation to the victim.

He was also ordered to attend an alcohol treatment programme to get help with his drink problem.

Recorder John Freeman said the ex-wife and partner had been as 'kind as they could be' to Pegg but said he had punched the new partner giving him a 'bloodied' nose: 'You had obviously been drinking and that has been a serious problem for you.'

He told Pegg that he should take the assistance on offer for his drink problem and should co-operate with those wanting to help: 'Please try and change things. You have got to stop it.'

He added: 'It is up to you. If you don't stop drinking you are going to lead a miserable life.'

He also imposed a two year restraining order on Pegg to keep away from his ex-wife and partner in future.

Jude Durr, for Pegg, said: 'It is a rather sad state of affairs.

He said that Pegg, who had served in the Army, had an entrenched drinking problem, which lay behind his offending.