A DESPERATE husband hid a listening device in an air freshener at the family home because he feared for his wife's "moral welfare" after the breakdown of their marriage, a court heard.

Khodadad Hassani lurked outside the house in Bradford with a camera to catch her with other men and threatened to post indecent videos of her on the internet.

Yesterday, the 31-year-old was sentenced to a community order after pleading guilty to stalking to cause alarm and distress over a three week period in May.

Prosecutor John Bull said the Afghan couple, who married in their homeland in an Islamic ceremony, had been in the UK for about 15 years.

At the beginning of this year, their marriage ran into trouble and Hassani was bailed not to contact his wife after she told the police he had been violent.

On May 7, he defied the bail condition and went into the family home in Wyke. When he left, his wife complained that he had concealed a listening device in an air freshener, Mr Bull said.

Over the next few days, neighbours challenged Hassani when they saw him loitering outside the house with a camera. He told them he was trying to catch his wife with other men.

He was also seen trying to force his way into the house by jamming open a lock.

On May 19, he contacted relatives in Afghanistan saying he had pictures and a voice recording of his wife with other men, and the following day he threatened to post it on the internet in public view.

Mr Bull said non of this alleged material existed.

Hassani was arrested after entering the house again and grabbing his wife's arm as he tried to seize the phone.

He told the police he was meeting up with her because he was concerned about her morals.

Hassani's solicitor, Tom Rushbrooke, said he was making idle threats while behaving irrationally at a time when his marriage had broken down.

"He deeply regrets his behaviour. He accepts that his marriage is ending in divorce and he wants to put this sorry episode behind him," Mr Rushbrooke said.

Hassani, who now lives in Butt Lane, Allesley, Coventry, did not intend to return to live in Bradford, the court was told.

Judge Robert Bartfield made a restraining order to prevent Hassani contacting his estranged wife.

The judge said it was "a sad case".

"These were the utterings of a frustrated and desperate man. You have learnt your lesson," he said.