THE family of actress Romola Garai are set to flee the country due to the stress of a court case involving her father.

Adrian Garai, of Alma Terrace, Calne, pleaded guilty to a public order offence following an aggressive argument with a shop manager over an iron in January.

Garai, 58, appeared in Chippenham Magistrates' Court on Wednesday and changed his plea after a common assault charge was lowered to violent and threatening behaviour.

The court heard how Garai, a bank manager and former chairman of the West Wiltshire Economic Partnership challenged staff in the Powerhouse store in Chippenham on January 9.

He was said to get angry and aggressive when the store manager said she knew nothing about an iron he had asked to be fixed. She called the police but felt 'intimidated and vulnerable'.

Sara Hurrion, prosecuting, said: "The defendant started to get louder and louder and was bellowing out at her, it happened very quickly, almost like a red mist and he went from calm to angry in just a couple of seconds."

Mark Ashley, defending, said: "When asked to leave the store he refused, which he agrees was probably a poor decision, but was still forcible standing his ground.

"The family now plans to move to France because of the stress caused by this court case."

Garai received a £400 fine and £55 costs. Romola, 21, has recently finished filming Vanity Fair.