A MARRIED father-of-four launched a campaign of harassment against his former mistress after she ended the relationship by text.

Oxford Crown Court heard Darren Day, of Chatham Road, Abingdon, sent his former lover a string of abusive messages, let himself into her house, cut her Internet and phone cables and made threatening gestures to her.

But yesterday, the court heard Day's wife was standing by him and had even offered to pay compensation to her husband's mistress on his behalf.

Andrew Morgan, prosecuting, said the 40-year-old turned up several times at Chloe Zanjani's, as well as her friend's house, and also made appearances at her local pub after the relationship ended in January.

He said: "On the evening of January 10 she got a text message from Mr Day warning her to always look over her shoulder and saying she would pay big time.

"Later she got a call more alarmingly from her own home phone number from Mr Day saying she could not ignore him now.

"She said 'What are you doing in my house?' and he said 'Having fun'."

Mr Morgan said police later spotted Day drink-driving near Redbridge Hollow in Oxford and followed him to the Milton Interchange where they stopped him and found a kitchen knife in his car.

Day, who had earlier admitted criminal damage, drink-driving and harassment, yesterday also admitted possessing the knife.

The court heard he was also subject to a restraining order banning him from contacting his former mistress.

John Simmons, defending, said: "Perhaps all of us would like to have a wife like his when the chips are down."

Judge Julian Hall, sentencing Day to four-months in jail, banned him from driving for three years and ordered him to pay £130 compensation.