A MAN who lost his temper with his wife began punching furniture and waving a Samurai sword around, a court heard.

Ashley Langley, 28, threatened wife Karen that he would “chop up” her brothers if she called the police, Gloucester Crown Court was told last Wednesday.

Langley then left Maidencroft Cottage, Kempsford, with the sword before police arrested him, said prosecutor Susan Cavender.

At an earlier hearing, Langley had denied charges of affray and possessing an offensive weapon in a public place on October 5 last year.

He was due to stand jury trial but last Tuesday his wife failed to attend court to give evidence so proceedings were adjourned overnight.

She attended court the following day when Langley’s lawyer, Jonathan Lewis, asked Judge Jamie Tabor QC for an indication of the sentence he would pass if Langley pleaded guilty.

When the judge indicated that he would pass a suspended jail term, Langley pleaded guilty to both charges and was bailed for pre- sentence reports.

He was told to return to court for sentence on June 24.

The court heard he is now living in Lancashire. Ms Cavender told the court the trouble flared after Langley had been drinking and got angry about being asked to fetch his wife’s son from his grandparents.

Langley punched a wardrobe and a living room cupboard in anger before grabbing a Samurai sword and making the threat.