jilted

A JILTED husband who headbutted his love rival on the Jeremy Kyle TV show has been convicted of assault.

David Staniforth, 45, shocked the audience at Manchester's Granada studios with his violent attack on bus driver Larry Mahoney.

Staniforth was on the daytime show to describe how Mr Mahoney, 39, had an affair with his wife Jennifer after moving into their home as a lodger.

As the pair squared up to one another on stage, Staniforth was filmed headbutting his rival, leaving him with blood pouring out of his nose.

The programme was broadcast earlier this year with the violent attack edited out but Mr Mahoney complained to the police and a criminal investigation was launched.

Yesterday, Staniforth pleaded guilty to assault after Manchester Magistrates' Court was shown a video of the incident.

It is thought to be the first time a confrontation on a British talk show has resulted in a criminal conviction.

Provoked

Staniforth admitted the assault charge but claimed in court that he had been provoked by the face-to-face confrontation created by the show.

He told magistrates: "I felt under pressure on the show. I didn't want to appear but my daughter asked me three times - and so did the show's producers.

"I only went on to the show with the intention of talking to my wife."

Magistrates agreed that he had been `highly provoked'.

Staniforth, of Jago Avenue, Chesterfield, will be sentenced next month.

The court heard how Staniforth had appeared in the studio in May with his blonde wife Jennifer to talk about their marriage problems while Mr Mahoney waited in the wings.

The couple had been married for 26 years and Mr Mahoney, a family friend, was staying with them as a lodger.

Staniforth grew suspicious that his wife was having an affair with their house guest and the marriage broke down in March 2007.

Prosecutor Gareth Hughes said: "Mr Mahoney walked towards Staniforth who got off his chair and there was a brief argument. All of a sudden and without warning Staniforth headbutted the victim in the face causing his nose to bleed."

A video of the incident showed Mr Kyle shouting at the guests to remain calm as security staff rushed onto the stage.

The court heard Mr Mahoney suffered a sore and swollen nose as a result of the attack and that he later reported the incident to police.

Mr Hughes said ITV refused to give police a copy of the incriminating tape until officers obtained a court order forcing the broadcaster to release it.

Confrontations

The 65-minute Jeremy Kyle show, which is broadcast from 9.25 am on weekday mornings on ITV1, has been running for just over two years and specialises in angry confrontations between love rivals and warring families.

A spokesman for ITV said the producers had co-operated fully with the police investigation but added that the company has a policy of not handing over unbroadcast footage unless ordered to do so.

The spokesman said: "On Jeremy Kyle we take the safety and well being of all studio guests extremely seriously. We have strict procedures in place to ensure this.

"Unfortunately in this case someone ended up being injured but once that had happened we did everything we could to deal with the situation properly."