A JEALOUS man who 'fortified' his house to stop his wife from going out without him and to keep her under control has been jailed for two years and four months.

Adel Hassani, who a judge said didn't have 'a shred of remorse' fitted combinations locks, to which only he knew the code, as well as dead locks to doors at the upmarket property.

Hassani, 66, also ensured the windows could only be partially opened to prevent his wife, who said she felt like she had been in prison through their 14-year marriage, getting out.

And the garden at the Peatmoor home was also sealed off with high fences and heavily locked gates with spikes on the top to again prevent escape.

The property was uncovered when police were called there on New Year's Eve after Hassani threatened to kill his wife and daughter following another row.

Tessa Hingston, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court that the 12-year-old girl had dialled 999 shortly after 5.30pm when he grabbed the large blade from the kitchen.

Once the call was connected she put the mobile phone in her pocket meaning her dad's 22 minutes of terror, during which he threatened to kill them both, was recorded.

Mrs Hassani told the police that he had started shouting at her again after a hospital appointment she had was moved.

He accused her of changing it, when in fact it was done by the NHS, and when she said she would call the police as he shouted at her, he got the knife.

Having used a code word to get her daughter to dial 999 call handlers heard him threatening to kill the woman and child as he held the knife to his wife's throat.

When the police arrived he hid the knife but his wife told them how he had dominated her during their 14 years marriage.

"She said she felt like she had been in prison for 14 years, which had been made worse since the locks were fitted," Miss Hingston said.

She said in the past he had accused her of flirting with other dads because she smiled when she thanked them when she picked up her daughter after a child's birthday party.

Hassani, who has two adult children from a previous wife, had fitted the locks after accusing her of having an affair when she was late home from doing the shopping.

In the previous couple of years he wouldn't let her leave the house without him, even banning her from putting the rubbish out, and locking her in when he was at work.

She told officers she feared for her life should there be a fire as she didn't have the keys or know the combinations for the locks.

A few years earlier his grown-up daughter had seen him slap her round the face and reported it to the police, but his wife gave Hassani a chance and refused to make a complaint.

Hassani, of Furze Close, admitted two counts of threats to kill and one of controlling or coercive behaviour.

Rob Ross, defending, said while some of it could be blamed on cultural differences, and his client said his wife was exaggerating, Hassani accepts he was more controlling than he should have been.

Jailing him Judge Tim Mousley QC said: "When the police arrived they did not find what might be described as a normal family home.

"They found premises that were heavily secured with locks on every window and door which only enabled those windows and doors to open partially.

"I have looked carefully at the photographs and what you had done with the house has been described by one witness as a fortification: that may be an exaggeration but it was clear what you had done to that hose was more to keep people in than keep people out.

"The life your wife had, she lays it out in a victim personal statement, you made her life a misery.

"Your disgraceful behaviour towards her was sustained. What you did to the house must have involved a degree of planning.

"The author of the pre-sentence report has not identified any form of remorse in you and that is not advanced on your behalf. In my judgement there isn't a shred of remorse in you."

He also imposed a restraining order banning him from contacting his wife and child for five years.