FORMER Ipswich schoolteacher John Troupe has the threat of jail hanging over him today after spy cameras caught him assaulting his ex-son-in-law.Troupe, a former design and technology teacher at Westbourne High School, pleaded guilty at South East Suffolk Magistrates' court to assaulting Alastair Titchmarsh and breaching a restraining order.

FORMER Ipswich schoolteacher John Troupe has the threat of jail hanging over him today after spy cameras caught him assaulting his ex-son-in-law.

Troupe, a former design and technology teacher at Westbourne High School, pleaded guilty at South East Suffolk Magistrates' court to assaulting Alastair Titchmarsh and breaching a restraining order.

It is the latest in a series of bust-ups in a feud between Troupe and the family of his ex-wife, Maureen.

In January last year Troupe was given a 60-hour community service order for harassing his ex-wife and was also restrained from contacting her and eight other people, including Mr Titchmarsh, for a year.

Troupe, who lives just a few doors away from Mr Titchmarsh in Notcutts, East Bergholt, admitted breaching this order by assaulting his former son-in-law.

The trouble flared when Troupe photographed Mr Titchmarsh driving his car home at around 11.10am, on July 8, last year.

He claimed he would use the photographs as evidence of his road tax being out of date.

Mr Titchmarsh then called Troupe "a sad little man" and told him to "go away", before going indoors. After Troupe continued to stand outside his house taking photographs, Mr Titchmarsh went outside and took his camera away.

Troupe asked for it back, but when Mr Titchmarsh refused he threw three punches at him, landing with one. Mr Titchmarsh suffered a "slight abrasion" to the left of his right eye from the blow and had his glasses bent. He responded by pushing Troupe away, causing him to fall over.

Magistrates saw the whole episode replayed on video as it had been caught on camera by neighbour Doreen Anthony, who has two cameras installed on the outside of her house.

Defending, John Hughes called for a pre-sentence report before sentence was passed, citing the "long history of the case".

Chairman of the bench Robert Skinner agreed to the request but said "all options" would be considered, including prison. "You don't seem to have learnt from your previous court appearances," he said.

Troupe will be sentenced at the court on January 28.

TIMELINE

December 2001

John Troupe appeared before South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court in Ipswich to plead guilty to three offences relating to harassment and public disorder, between May 1 and August 12, 2001.

He admitted parading a photograph of his ex-wife outside his home and also to displaying a banner disparaging his ex wife in his front window.

Magistrates refused to rule out a custodial sentence and adjourned sentencing until January 9 for pre sentence reports.

January 10, 2002

Troupe returned to magistrates on and was ordered to carry out 60 hours community service. He was also placed under a restraining order preventing him from contacting his ex-wife and eight other people.

May 30, 2002

Jennifer Round, Troupe's partner, was bound over at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court for the sum of £200 for one year after driving a car straight at Doreen Anthony.

July 8, 2002

Troupe was charged with assault and breaching the previous restraining order. He has pleaded guilty to the charges.

January, 2003

Troupe pleads guilty to assault and breaching restraining order.

January 28, 2003

Troupe will learn his fate at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court.