LORD Cardigan has been found guilty of harassing his former caretaker during an encounter at Waitrose in Marlborough.

It was alleged he shouted offensive comments to former Tottenham House employee Prue Chetwynd-Talbot at the supermarket in the High Street in April 2013.

Lord Cardigan, who appeared at North West Wiltshire Magistrates Court in Chippenham on October 21 under the name of David Brudenell-Bruce, denied the charge and claimed he was merely pointing out Ms Chetwyn-Talbot to a mutual friend.

However, magistrates found him guilty of using threatening words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress under the section five of the Public Order Act.

The Earl, who turns 63 on Thursday and owns the 4,500-acre Savernake estate in Marlborough, was fined £200 and ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge plus £350 costs.

This week, the court said the estranged father of The Voice star Bo Bruce was appealing the decision.

This is the first of 17 charges that have been lodged against him and brought to court by Wiltshire Police and the Wiltshire Crown Prosecution Service that has ended in a conviction.

When contacted by the Gazette Lord Cardigan did not wish to make a comment.