A MAN who held a knife at the throat of his partner’s ex-husband during a row has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Shaun Goddard who was described as “meek and mild” snapped during a confrontation after his wife’s former husband David Rose turned up their Stowmarket home, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

There was a heated exchange between the two men and Goddard “snapped”, picking up an eight inch hunting knife and holding it to Mr Rose’s throat, said Richard Wood, prosecuting.

During the incident Goddard was heard to say “I’m going to cut his neck” and a number of people who saw the incident were scared about what might happen, said Mr Wood.

The incident ended without any injury being caused to Mr Rose and when the police arrived Goddard had surrendered the knife.

“He was apologetic and tearful about what he’d done,” said Mr Wood.

Mr Wood told the court that although there was no excuse for what Goddard had done it was accepted he had acted in the face of a “certain amount of provocation” from Mr Rose.

Goddard, 45, of Combs Wood Drive, Stowmarket, admitted having a knife in a public place and was given a three month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to do 50 hours unpaid work in the community. He was also ordered to pay £120 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.

Sentencing him Judge Peter Thompson said the incident seemed to have been triggered by Mr Rose and not by Goddard. “You are in, I accept, a very difficult situation living with his wife and his children,” said the judge.

He accepted that Goddard was much the smaller of the two men. “I accept Mr Rose is 6ft 2ins and 18 stone and a very intimidating man.”

He urged Goddard to say out of Mr Rose’s way in the future and to avoid another confrontation.

Declan Gallagher, for Goddard, described his client as “meek and mild” and said he was 5ft 9ins and of slim build compared to Mr Rose, who was a much bigger man.

He said Mr Rose, who also lives in Stowmarket, had gone to the house his ex wife shared with Goddard following a row between his daughter and his ex-wife.

He said that when he got to the house Mr Rose had put some rubbish in a neighbour’s bin and had laid claim to some paving slabs at the house.

Mr Gallagher said the incident was the latest in a series of events involving Mr Rose and on this occasion Goddard had snapped when faced with a degree of provocation.