An Exeter car salesman who was arrested for carrying an axe and causing criminal damage has received a suspended jail sentence.

Jonathan Hoare was drunk when he was arrested after shattering his own glass front door and smashing a friend's front door with an axe, Exeter Crown Court was told last week.

Hoare, of Ottery St Mary, admitted having an offensive weapon and two offences of criminal damage and was jailed for two months, suspended for a year.

He was also ordered to undergo anger management and alcohol awareness courses as part of a year’s supervision and pay £1,000 compensation for the two broken front doors.

The court heard the actions were "totally out of character" for the former soldier, now working as a car salesman in Exeter.

Hoare had expressed extreme remorse and regret and accepted he had developed a significant drink problem since his desired career in the army was thwarted by a medical condition, the court was told.

The offences took place in the early hours of August 31 when Hoare returned home drunk and found he'd been locked out by his girlfriend, reported the Express & Echo newspaper.