A millionaire businessman who broke into his estranged wife’s home and killed her beloved fish has been jailed.
Anthony Haines, 51, had already been banned from contacting ex-partner Jane after the acrimonious breakdown of their marriage.
But the recycling company boss was caught on CCTV breaking into the house where Mrs Haines, 52, was living with her partner.
Jealous Haines then shut off the electric, causing the £10,000 carp in her garden pond and tank to die.
He also slashed a canvas photo of the couple, went through her bedroom drawers and plunged a cleaver and knife into a chopping board and kitchen cupboard.
Yesterday he was jailed for 16 months after pleading guilty to burglary with intent and criminal damage. Prosecutor Laurence Jones said: “Mrs Haines suspected her husband immediately.
“She said he was jealous that she had moved on with her life.”
Reading her victim personal statement, Mr Jones added: “Since they split up, she said her husband has been making her life hell.
“Being threatened makes her fearful for her life and she believes he has the capacity to harm her.”
Haines, described as a successful businessman, split from Mrs Haines in 2018. He was previously jailed in 2019 for threatening her and her boyfriend with a large kitchen knife.
In the latest attack, in June, Haines, of Caerphilly, South Wales, had been drinking heavily before breaking into the home.
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Marian Lewis, representing the waste boss, said: “When he was sober the next morning he realised that he had made a massive, massive mistake.”
Sentencing Haines at Newport crown court, Recorder Duncan Bould said: “You deliberately wanted to send out a message of aggression.”
As well as the jail term, Haines was also given a 10-year restraining order.
