A man flew into a rage and ripped off his estranged wife's rings after she confessed she had cheated on him for several years, a court heard.

Gary Horn ended up on a robbery charge for the "impulsive act".

The 48-year-old met up with Jill Horn at Bluewater shopping centre near Dartford on November 7 last year in breach of a bail condition not to contact her.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Horn had told his wife of 24 years there would be consequences if she did not agree to meet him.

They went to the coffee shop in the John Lewis store where the Mrs Horn told him she had been having an affair for the past 11 years.

She was not wearing the wedding ring he had given her but he snatched off two rings from one hand and another from the other hand, together worth about £240.

"The sentence is designed to punish you for what is extremely foolish behaviour" - Recorder Charles George QC

Horn, who lived with his wife in Carnation Road, Strood, left and the victim reported him to the police. When arrested a few hours later, he handed over the rings.

He denied robbery and his guilty plea to theft was accepted by the prosecution.

Elise Jeremiah, defending, said Horn was due to stand trial and despite his wife, with whom he had been in a relationship for 32 years, failing to attend court, he still admitted his guilt.

Horn, who has a degree in electronics, stayed in contact with her because he was concerned about his daughters, who were living with her and her new partner.

Miss Jeremiah said of taking the rings: “He doesn’t run away. She is not shouting or crying. There was no demonstration she was shocked, worried or distressed in any shape or form.

“He accepts this was an inappropriate way to deal with the highly emotive information he received during the meeting.”

Horn, who was remanded in custody for breaking the bail condition, was awaiting tests for cancer.

“He is quite an unwell man,” said Miss Jeremiah. “The stress of the breakdown in the relationship took its toll on his health.

“This has been a see change and will be a disaster on his future welfare. He will be of no fixed address when released. It was one impulsive act.”

Jailing Horn for eight months, Recorder Charles George QC said he had been in flagrant breach of the bail condition by contacting his wife.

“She disclosed to you that for a number of years she had been having an affair,” he said. “In a fit of pique you removed the rings.

“It must have caused her emotional distress and lost confidence. The fact she agreed to meet you does not seem to be a redeeming factor in any way.

“The sentence is designed to punish you for what is extremely foolish behaviour.”

As Horn had been in custody, he was expected to be released immediately.