AN inept wedding photographer who ran off with a client's wife and then tried to pick a fight with him has been warned he faces five years in prison if he breaches a restraining order.

The indefinite order was imposed on 50-year-old Clayton Bennett at Peterlee Magistrates' Court yesterday.

On Monday, Bennett, of Cedar Terrace, Fencehouses, near Chester-le-Street, County Durham, pleaded guilty to one charge of threatening behaviour.

The court heard trouble flared on December 5 when the two men met in Peterlee town centre with their new partners.

Rose-Ellen Forster was married to Mark Fry in April 2008, before she left him nine months later for Bennett, who had filmed their wedding.

Amanda Carr, Mr Fry's current partner, was there with her four-year-old daughter, who witnessed events.

The court heard Bennett shouted abuse at Mr Fry, encouraged him to hit him and pushed him up against a shop front.

Prosecutor Debra Jones said Bennett, who is notorious for upsetting newlyweds with his appalling wedding photography and videography, was the aggressor.

District Judge Leo Pyle said: "What I have to deal with is the actual offence and your behaviour on the day.

"You accept that it was played out in front of a four-year-old child."

The restraining order applies to both Mr Fry and Amanda Carr and Bennett was warned he will be prosecuted if he communicates with them in any way.

Bennett, who represented himself, said he accepted responsibility for his behaviour, but said Mr Fry had not been truthful in his statement.

He said: "If there is a grudge to be held it is held by Mr Fry because his wife left him and is now married to me.

"I have no problem never seeing Mr Fry again."

Bennett was also sentenced to a 12 month community order, 80 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay £250 towards prosecution costs.

District Judge Pyle said: "If you see them in the street you must cross the road.

"Simply do not have any communication or contact with them.

"If you do you put yourself at risk of further prosecution."