A FORMER senior fire service officer has been ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work after throwing a kitchen knife at his estranged wife during a furious row.

Paul Reay carried out the attack at their marital home in Seaham, east Durham, while the couple were legally separated but living under the same roof.

The 56-year-old was convicted of common assault following a trial at a previous hearing at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court.

The court was told, Maureen Reay was asleep in their grandchildren’s bunk bed when he returned home noisily after a night out drinking and watching the fireworks, on November 4.

Mrs Reay said he stormed drunkenly into the room, verbally abusing her for withdrawing £2,000 from their joint account.

He grabbed hold of her the hair and neck before going to the kitchen and returning with a baking tray full of crockery and cutlery, which he threw into the room.

Mrs Reay added, he left and returned again with a five-inch vegetable knife, which he brandished at her before throwing it at her. The knife hit the wall next to her head and fell to the floor.

Reay, who worked for County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service for 33 years, retired as Assistant Chief Fire Officer in June 2011.

John Garside, prosecuting, said Mrs Reay had described her estranged husband as having been “bullying, domineering and controlling” throughout their marriage of more than 14 years.

In a victim impact statement she said: “He doesn’t care where and in front of whom he humiliates me. He thinks that because he has retired from a high responsible position in the fire service and has accrued some wealth that he can use this as a proverbial stick to beat me with.”

She added: “This incident is sickening – that it escalated to the point where he has brandished a knife at me. It is getting worse and I am genuinely fearful for my physical and mental well-being.”

Dave Malone, mitigating, said the couple were going through an acrimonious breakdown and that divorce proceedings had now started.

He said, the court proceedings had been a “harrowing experience” for Reay, who had not had so much as a parking fine in the past.

He added: “The loss of his good character has had a massive impact upon him.”

Reay, of Drewsick Court, Murton, had denied assault common by beating.

He told the court he did not grab Mrs Reay, did not threaten her with a knife and did not throw one at her.

Reay said he was not drunk but accepted he threw a tray of dishes into the room.

He told Monday’s hearing: “Perhaps it was not the smartest thing I have ever done in my life. But at no stage did I mean her any harm.

“It was a fairly heated exchange. It was not very nice at all but it was two-sided.”

Reay was made subject of a 12-month community order and told to pay £905 in costs and compensation.

He was also given a 12-month restraining order forbidding him from contacting Mrs Reay, other than through a solicitor.