A husband who threatened to blow his estranged wife's head off, illegally kept a shotgun and cartridges hidden at his home, a court heard.

Joseph James Wright did not have a firearms certificate for the weapon and 50 cartridges, found by the police in a locked metal box under his sink.

Leicester Crown Court was told that the gun also had a sound suppressor attachment, to act as a silencer.

As well as the threat to his estranged wife, Wright also told his daughter: "I'm going to blow your mother's head off."

When the daughter's maternal grandmother heard about the threat she called the police.

They searched Wright's flat in Factory Street, Shepshed, on January 13.

As the police were taking the weapon and ammunition away, Wright (45) drove up in his van and was promptly arrested, said John Hallissey, prosecuting.

He was found to be carrying three lock knives, which he claimed were for countryside pursuits, such as fishing.

A breath test showed he was three-and-a-half times the legal drink-drive limit, with a reading of 126 mgs in 100 mls of breath.

The limit is 35 mgs.

Wright pleaded guilty to possessing a shotgun without a firearms certificate, driving with excess alcohol and three counts of possessing a bladed article.

He received a 51-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, with supervision, and was banned from driving for three years.

Wright was also placed on a three-month 7pm to 7am curfew and ordered to undergo a drink-impaired drivers' programme.

Sentencing, Judge Lynn Tayton QC said: "It appears after the breakdown of your marriage you were drinking a lot and made a number of threats to your wife, directly and via other people.

"Her mother called the police and they recovered the firearm.

"Contact with your wife is now on a friendly basis and it's very much to her credit that she remains friendly against the background of these offences.

"You've had a period on remand in custody and given you're now addressing your problems and your wife's attitude, I can suspend the prison sentence."

Jane Hinds, in mitigation, said: "He'd had the shotgun for a significant period of time but hadn't used it.

"He can't recall where he got if from, but it was always kept in the silver box with two locks on.

"It was an item his ex-wife would have known about and he understands it makes his comments and threats more serious. His wife didn't complain to the police and she didn't want to support the prosecution. It was her mother who involved the police."

Wright's wife was said to have written to him in prison and facilitated contact with the children.

Mrs Hinds said: "He can't recall making the threats and never intended her to believe what he said.

"He's motivated to reduce his alcohol intake to a more reasonable level."