Man told to stay away from wife

17 January 2011, 11:37 | Updated: 17 January 2011, 11:40

A Russian man was on Friday (January 14th) told by a judge not to be drunk in public or contact his ex-wife.

Sergejs Kurakins, 41, had spent 92 days behind bars after being arrested in a drunken state outside his wife's home in Hatfield Road, St Albans.

Prosecutor Edward Lewis told St Albans crown court on Friday: "He had fallen out with his wife and believed she was in a new relationship. He went round to her home and was shouting, making threats and was carrying a knife."

Police were called and when they went to his flat in Howard Close they found part of it had been given over to growing cannabis.

Kurakins, who was aided in court by a Russian translator, admitted harassment, threatening behaviour and cultivating cannabis.

Defence barrister Simon Hancock said that whilst on remand in jail Kurakins had been described as a "helpful and responsible prisoner."  He said Kurakins worked as a scrap metal collector.

Judge John Plumstead told him: "What you did merits a sentence of imprisonment but because you have served the equivalent of a six month sentence I am going to take a merciful route."

He passed a community order for 12 montsh and ordered him to do 100 hours unpaid work.

Kurakins must not go to his ex-wife's home and must not be drunk in public.