A VIOLENT alcoholic from Trowbridge was jailed for three months on Tuesday after a court heard how he assaulted his wife.

Stephen Mitchell, 39, was given the custodial sentence after Chippenham magistrates decided he was a danger to the public.

He also pleaded guilty to assaulting two police officers, possession of a prohibited firearm, failure to surrender to custody twice and criminal damage to police property.

Mr Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told the court Mr Mitchell had been married to his wife for three years in a relationship that had its ups and downs due to the defendant's excessive drinking.

He said during the evening of March 16, the couple rowed at their home at Sheridan Gardens, Trowbridge, but it calmed down and Mrs Mitchell went to bed at about 1.30am. The next thing she knew she was woken up at around 3.40am by the defendant, who had been drinking most of the night, leaning over her and shouting. He dragged her out of bed and smashed the telephone, saying she would not be able to phone for help.

Eventually she managed to get into the street where a police officer saw her in distress with to her right forearm. Officers found Mr Mitchell asleep in the bed with a can of CS gas.

The next violent incident occurred on May 15 when police were called to an address in Ryland Way, Trowbridge, about someone having taken a drug overdose.

Mr Meeke described how the defendant was there with a woman, his partner at the time, who was frothing at the mouth and fitting. As police started searching the room, Mr Mitchell threw himself at one of the officers and threatened to kill them both. It took both officers to hold him down but he struggled free and punched them both.

Mr John Elliott, defending, said: "There are two Stephen Mitchells. One who is a caring and nice man and another when he is under the influence of alcohol."