A young father has been jailed for attacking his in-laws during a violent family squabble over the failure of his marriage after just eight months.
Brett Ashelford, aged 21, went to see his estranged wife at her parents' home and ended up attacking both of them as well as a woman police officer who tried to stop him.
His wife Hannah's 66-year-old father Alan Burnage suffers from a heart condition and was rushed to hospital after collapsing during the struggle at his Exeter home.
Ashelford was released by police on bail but within weeks he defied an order to stay away from his wife and threw a brick through the windscreen of her car, Exeter Crown Court was told.
He was jailed for a year but will be released within days because he has already spent six months in custody on remand.
Ashelford, of Mildmay Close, Exwick, Exeter, admitted causing Mr Burnage actual bodily harm and common assaults on his wife Anne and PC Chrissy Ward. He also admitted damaging a hire car being used by Hannah in a second incident.
He was jailed for 12 months by Judge Graham Cottle, who told him:"You were told by your wife you marriage was over but you could not accept it and sought her out at her parents' address, where there was an ugly series of incidents.
"Mr Burnage suffers from a heart condition and was in a weakened state of health and as a result of what you did he was taken to hospital where tests showed he had not suffered a heart attack, although he had some injury to his neck and hip."
Miss Bathsheba Cassel, prosecuting, said Ashelford married Hannah in June 2013 and the couple's son was born a month later. Their relationship was stormy and she told him it was over in late February this year.
She went to stay with her parents at their home at Barley Lane but police were called after he went round there twice on the night before the assaults.
The next morning he returned and police were called again when he became emotional and refused to leave. He pushed passed the woman police officer, barging her out the way and injured Mrs Burnage's arm as he forced his way through the front door.
Mr Burnage tried to stop him and they ended up struggling on the floor where Ashelford was handcuffed by Pc Ward and arrested. He told officers:"I have been stupid. I will never get to see my son now."
Miss Cassel said:"Mr Burnage remained collapsed on the floor and an ambulance was called. Ashelford told the police he did not know he had a heart condition. The family say they now feel vulnerable, scared and intimidated by the defendant."
The victim was checked out at hospital and given drugs to stabilize his heartbeat and control angina.
Ashelford went on to smash a window in Hannah's hire car and cause around £2,000 damage by scratching bodywork with a key.
Mr Adrian Chaplin, defending, said:"These ugly incidents arose from the breakdown of a relationship. The defendant was only just 21 at the time but had married and had responsibility for a child. They were struggling in practical terms, financially and emotionally."
