A JEALOUS husband held a loaded gun to his wife's head after finding out on the Jeremy Kyle show that he was not the father of her baby.

Craig Platt, 27, of Kinmel Bay in North Wales, was jailed for an indeterminate period at Mold Crown Court after admitting possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. He will spend at least 18 months behind bars.

It is the second controversy to hit the ITV talk show.

Last year it was dubbed `human bear baiting' by District Judge Alan Berg, after David Staniforth, from Chesterfield, headbutted his wife's lover during filming.

The show was later banned from the TVs at Manchester magistrates court, and dubbed `worst TV show of all time' in a poll earlier this year.

In scenes recorded for the controversial ITV talk show last November but yet to be screened, Platt's wife was portrayed very negatively, Platt's defence barrister Simon Christie claimed.

He said it was `a tragedy' that Platt had been persuaded to attend the TV show, which was `for the purposes of producing a public spectacle'.

He added: "My client indicates that the researchers wanted a degree of excitement. "When I spoke to my client in conference, I was horrified by what he had to say about the manner in which the audience was `whipped up'"

He quoted Judge Alan Berg comments about `human bear baiting', and that the `whole purpose of the show was to affect a morbid and depressing display of dysfunctional people who were in some kind of turmoil... for the purpose of titillating bored members of the public who had nothing better to do with their mornings than watch trash TV'.

Intolerable

It is understood Mr Platt acted with `dignity' after learning the baby was not his. But over the course of the week `the matter ate away at him' his barrister said, until `matters came to a head when he had too much to drink and the situation, for him, became intolerable'

The court heard how the Platts had been together from 1999 to 2006, before getting back together last year and marrying in October. At the time, the defendant's 23-year-old wife Jane had a six-month-old baby, but was unsure whether the defendant or another man was the father.

Initially Mr Platt was accepting of the situation but soon became wracked with jealousy and paranoia, convinced his wife was sleeping with one of his relatives. In November the mother of Mrs Platt's ex-boyfriend said she had spoken to the Jeremy Kyle show about a paternity test.

Although Mrs Platt was reluctant the defendant appeared to be `enthusiastic'.

Days after finding out during the making of the show that he was not the father of the baby, Platt threatened to smash his wife's face in and kidnap the child.

On November 21 he came home drunk, picked up an air rifle, put a pellet in the breach and pointed at her head from a 12-in distance. Mrs Platt escaped through the bathroom window and ran to the taxi office to get help. She was so frightened she spoke to the police under a desk.

The judge, Mr Recorder Robert Trevor-Jones said that he took into account the recent background which provided the catalyst.

But he had committed a very serious offence in drink and argued with his wife, not so much about the legacy of the television show but because of jealous accusations he was making.

He pointed the air weapon at her and clearly terrified her but `fortunately, perhaps before it could be discharged, she ran out of the house.'

The court heard he had previous convictions included an affray when he swung a samurai sword at police and then hid under floorboards at his then Rhyl home, threatening to ignite a gas main.

The court heard the couple, who got together in 1999 until breaking up in 2006, hope to reconcile when Platt is released and live together as a family.