A MAN who locked his ex-wife in a bedroom so he could eat his tea in peace has been sentenced at Bradford Crown Court for false imprisonment.

Kevin Drake, 59, was given a two year conditional discharge and ordered not to contact Moira Drake for five years except through a solicitor.

Drake, now of Sulby Grove, Greengates, Bradford, argued with his former wife of 34 years over the whereabouts of a cigarette lighter, prosecutor Stephen Wood told the court .

Mr Wood said the couple had separated and Mrs Drake moved out of the matrimonial home.

But the court was told that she returned to live there for a period of time while they sorted out their financial arrangements.

After the argument, Mrs Drake went to her room.

But she realised the door was locked behind her, the court was told.

She called for assistance from a window.

The police arrived to find her imprisoned in the room while Drake was having his evening meal.

“He said he locked her in to eat his tea in peace.

“Once he had finished, he would have let her out,” Mr Wood said.

The court heard that the Drakes were now living apart.

Drake pleaded guilty to falsely imprisoning Mrs Drake.

The offence happened on February 11 this year.

His barrister, Sophie Drake, said her client had never been in any trouble before.

He and his wife separated in 2012.

She moved out of the address but she returned in February last year.

Miss Drake gave details to the court of the atmosphere between the pair.

“It wasn’t a happy household,” she said.

“The atmosphere between them was tense,” she added.

Drake had medical problems and the circumstances in which the offence was committed would not be repeated.

The court heard that the lock keeping Mrs Drake in the room was a bathroom type bolt and not the strongest.

Judge David Hatton QC said: “False imprisonment is ordinarily a very serious offence.

“But these circumstances are very different.”

Character references spoke very highly of Drake.

He was not in the best of health, the court was told.

The offence was also said to be out of character.

The judge made a restraining order for five years.

It bans Drake from contacting Mrs Drake except through her solicitor.