JASON Ranford was lucky not to be jailed for fraud and threats of violence after a judge spared his business and his child from losing him.

The former manager of the Brunel Rooms, now in a relationship with ex-colleague Paula Harris, had used her mother's credit cards to the tune of £1, 847.93 on betting websites and to pay for van insurance.

But District Judge Simon Cooper heard today how Ranford hoped to pay the money back before anyone noticed.

Adding to a long history of violence and dishonesty, Ranford, 29, of Padstow Road, also threatened to kill Alex Marshall in a scrap outside a pub in Wanborough last April, brandishing a broken bottle in his face and yelling "do you know how much I earn? I could pay someone to shoot you in the head."

Keith Ballinger, prosecuting, told the court Ranford had invited his victim outside the pub, before telling him: "I could pay someone to shoot your loved ones."

"At one stage Mr Marshall says he places his fingers in a gun shape and places it against his temple," said Mr Ballinger. "He then takes a wine glass and smashes it, pushing that towards him, lunging towards him with the broken end, and he was fearful about what would happen.

"He continued to make threats saying 'I am going to kill you, you are dead tomorrow'. "

The incident occurred in full view of families with children after Ranford had drunk three bottles of wine, the court heard. During the incident he also damaged the wing mirrors of Alex Marshall's BMW.

"Mr Ranford stands before you as a much more contrite man," said Alex Daymond, defending. "That man realised that on previous occasions you have sent him straight to custody, and he was in fear of that outcome.

"Given his history that would be entirely justified. His behaviour was out of place and he offers his sincere apologies for what happened.

"He knows now he has to face the music, and this is to his credit."

Mr Daymond added 12 people now depend on Ranford for their livelihood as full-time employees of his courier business, from which he takes home a salary of £40,000.

"Looking at his history your reaction may be to send this man straight to prison," he said.

"Things have somewhat changed in his life. It appears to be quite a successful business and his customers seem to rate him highly."

District Judge Simon Cooper told Ranford: "This was an appalling display of violence and temper. You behaved in a drunken, selfish extreme display of temper that would have terrified anybody, particularly the children watching.

"Things go wrong when glasses are smashed, with very serious injuries caused. Mr Marshall was truly terrified by your stupid, childish demonstrations of using a gun.

"I just hope you will calm down and stop being as aggressive and deceitful as you have been in the past. Perhaps your business and fatherhood will change you."

On Wednesday, Ranford was handed a three-month suspended sentence for failing to pay more than £3,000 in compensation to victims for historic offences.

"You will pay the court £200 every two weeks, and if there is any hitch you will be brought back before the court," added District Judge Cooper.

For the threats of violence, Ranford was given 16 weeks in prison suspended, with four weeks running concurrently for the criminal damage.

For the fraud, he was given two further four week sentences, to run concurrently with each other. He was also given 120 hours of unpaid work, made to pay £664 in compensation to his victims, an £80 surcharge and £150 criminal courts charge.