A man who was upset at the break-up of his marriage was found in his estranged wife’s Suffolk home holding a knife, a court has heard.

Trevor Eagle had entered the house in Seaward Road, Leiston, at night through the front door which was unlocked and disturbed his daughter while he was stumbling about on the stairs, Ipswich Crown Court was told.

When she came out of her room she saw Eagle holding a knife with a four-inch blade which had come from the house’s kitchen said Robert Sadd, prosecuting.

“He appeared to be under the influence of drink,” said Mr Sadd.

When his daughter asked why he was there, Eagle had repeatedly apologised and had left the house.

He was found by police in the garden of the house and was held in custody from August until January.

Mr Sadd said Eagle did not have the right to enter the property and before leaving he had helped himself to a bottle of whisky.

Eagle, 51, of Leiston Road, Saxmundham, admitted burglary and was ordered to attend an alcohol treatment programme for six months and banned from going to his wife’s address for 18 months.

Raj Joshi, for Eagle, said the police officer who arrested him had described him as being drunk and feeling hurt and angry about his wife and her new man.

When Eagle had sobered up he could not remember much about the incident and asked if he had hurt anyone, said Mr Joshi.

He said his client had not drunk any alcohol since the incident and was in regular contact with his three children.