A JEALOUS ex-husband jumped over pews at the baptism of his godchild to attack his ex-wife’s new partner, a court heard.

Darren Cooper, 33, had gone to the christening on March 20 at St Lawrence Church in Stratfordsub-Castle to be made a godparent with his former wife of 12 years Kelly Cooper.

The couple, who have four children together, had split in October last year and the family agreed that in order to keep the peace neither would bring their new partner.

Cooper, of Oaktree Field Caravan Site, had kept his side of the bargain but when he spotted Adam Nash, the new partner of Mrs Cooper, he climbed over the pews to get to him, landing between eight and 12 punches.

In the end his brother managed to calm him down and he was ushered out of the church.

Mr Nash suffered no lasting injury in the attack and Cooper pleaded guilty to assault by beating at Salisbury Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

Cooper denied it was an unprovoked attack and said Mr Nash had acted threateningly by putting his arm out towards him.

However, he admitted he had “overreacted” but was brought up in the travelling community and had been taught to “respond with violence if provoked”. The court heard how he was a man of good character and had no previous convictions.

He was told to do 100 hours’ unpaid work and pay a £60 victim surcharge as well as £85 costs.