AN Ipswich man hit his prospective brother-in-law with a stick in a frozen food store after years of torment, a court heard.Ronnie Clarke, 33, claimed he became outraged at his girlfriend's sister's boyfriend “Jay” after seven years of lending him money to pay for his drinking and gambling debts.

AN Ipswich man hit his prospective brother-in-law with a stick in a frozen food store after years of torment, a court heard.

Ronnie Clarke, 33, claimed he became outraged at his girlfriend's sister's boyfriend “Jay” after seven years of lending him money to pay for his drinking and gambling debts.

South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court heard that Clarke, of Elmcroft Road, finally flipped after Jay stole £100 from his girlfriend's sister Tina Humphreys.

Adele Cook, prosecuting, said on November 11 last year Clarke chased Jay into the Farm Food Store in Bramford Road, and hit him on the arm with a stick. Clarke pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour.

Diana Infanti, mitigating said: “Jay has a drink and gambling problem and spends all the family's money.”

The court heard that all the families involved had quite a number of children between them.

Mrs Infanti added: “For six or seven years Mr Clarke and Lorraine (his girlfriend) helped her sister with money. Mr Clarke tried to get along with Jay but it has been difficult. In November Mr Clarke leant his sister-in-law £100 because Jay had spent their money on drink and debts.

“Then he got a telephone call from Lorraine to say Jay had gone into the house and taken the money. Jay became quite aggressive after drinking and Mr Clarke could hear him and he was making racial comments about Ronnie and the girls were crying.”

Clarke told police: “I was just so upset and so angry I just lost it.”

Clarke was conditionally discharged for 12 months and ordered to pay £43 towards court costs. He was told if he stayed out of trouble he would hear no more about it.

The court heard that Tina's relationship with Jay had since ended and he had moved away from the area.