IPSWICH: Former Ipswich Town star David Johnson is today awaiting his sentence after causing more than �6,000 of damage when he smashed his wife’s home and car in a rage.

The ex-striker broke windows, a flat screen TV, a mirror, a chandelier and furniture.

As police arrived he was throwing a dining-room chair through a window.

Johnson also smashed the windows of his wife’s Mini Cooper which was parked outside the house in Musters Road, West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire.

Nottingham Magistrates’ Court heard Johnson had split up with his wife Alison because of his alleged infidelities.

The 33-year-old, of River Crescent, Waterside Way, Colwick, told police after his arrest that he had moved out three weeks earlier.

He described being angry but did not know why.

He pleaded guilty to damaging the Mini Cooper and causing damage to furniture and fittings belonging to Alison Johnson on Sunday, June 27, this year.

The court heard that some of the windows of the house were smashed, along with a flat-screen television, two dining room chairs, a bathroom mirror, a football trophy in a child’s bedroom and a chandelier.

Tara Kelly, prosecuting, said the damage to the car cost �4,287 to put right and to the house and contents, �2,300.

The couple were married for 14 years up until September last year, the court heard.

“A few weeks before the incident the defendant attended the address in drink and there were difficulties between them in relation to that.

“On occasions, she [Mrs Johnson] allowed him to stay to try to calm and resolve the situation,” said Ms Kelly.

On June 26 she had been at a friend’s home nearby when Johnson called her and indicated he was coming “home”.

Her friend was then contacted and Johnson could be heard on loud speaker saying he was going to smash up his house.

Police were called after they heard the sound of smashing glass. No one was in the house at the time.

In a victim impact statement, read to the court, Mrs Johnson said she believed her husband was drinking too much and this affected his behaviour.

Magistrate Jennifer Eagles told Johnson, who had no previous convictions: “It was not the first time you had gone round to the house in a drunken state, so there was a degree of harassment as well.”

The case was adjourned until August 5 for a pre-sentence report.

Bail was granted, on condition that he does not contact his wife or go within 100m of the address in Musters Road.

Warwick Tatford, in mitigation, said there was a great deal of remorse expressed by the defendant.

Outside court, Johnson, who retired from the professional game due to injury in 2006, declined to comment.

He began his career with Manchester United and then moved to Bury, where he scored 25 goals in just over 80 appearances.

He helped the club to successive promotions before he was bought by Ipswich Town for �1 million. He quickly became a fans’ favourite at Portman Road, but was unable to replicate his form when the Blues were promoted to the Premier League and was subsequently sold to Nottingham Forest for �3million in 2001.

He made 148 appearances and scored 46 goals for the club, before a back injury forced him to retire in 2006.