The sister of Men Behaving Badly actress Leslie Ash wept as she told a court she was bullied and harassed by her estranged husband.

Deborah Ash said she was tearful, shaken and frightened after being publicly confronted three times by Peter Aboro.

Yesterday, Aboro, 53, was found guilty of causing harassment, alarm and distress to Mrs Ash following a two-hour trial at Hastings Magistrates Court.

Mrs Ash, a former Hot Gossip dancer, told the court how the pair met accidentally in the street on July 9.

She said she was on her way to a dry cleaners when Aboro strode towards her at speed in busy Queen's Road, Hastings, blocked her path and called her a thief and a criminal.

Then using his fingers in a gun gesture he told her "I'm going to put one in the back of your nut".

Shaken and frightened, she said she retreated into the dry cleaners but emerged five minutes later to be confronted by Aboro for a second time.

As she was heading to a pedestrian crossing near Blockbuster video store, he lunged at her with a shopping bag in his hand, leading her to believe he was about to strike her.

Passer-by Sandy Fleming saw what happened and went to comfort her.

But as Aboro was walking away he saw the sympathy she was garnering and again approached Mrs Ash.

He told Mrs Fleming "What are you doing with her?" before again pointing his fingers at Mrs Ash gun-style and saying "I'm going to put one in your nut".

Mrs Ash, who lives at the marina in St Leonards, broke down in the witness box as she told the court about the lunchtime incident, saying she was scared and intimidated.

Dressed in a black suit, she said: "I was very shaken. All his shopping was all over the place.

"I was crying and with that a lady came over to me and asked if I was okay.

"She came over and comforted me. I was very frightened, crying and shaking.

"With that I saw he was walking back towards us again and he started saying 'What are you doing with her? She is a f***ing thief'.

"He raised his hand in the air like he was holding a gun and made a comment like 'I'm going to put one in your head'. I was shaken, upset and scared."

Mrs Ash was accused by defence solicitor Angela Durand of selling stories to newspapers about domestic violence allegedly encountered by her sister, Leslie, who is married to ex-footballer Lee Chapman.

However, Mrs Ash told the court she complied with press interviews in order to act as a "wake-up call" to her sister, whom she said was in denial about her domestic troubles with Mr Chapman.

She insisted it had nothing to do with her own case.

Mrs Ash and Aboro married in May 2001 when he was in prison, having already known each other for several years. But the relationship soon turned sour. The pair separated and were going through divorce proceedings when the incident happened, proceedings which today remain unfinished, the court heard.

Aboro, who has 18 previous convictions, claimed Mrs Ash - now a therapist and personal trainer - used her acting skills to gain sympathy from passers-by and was not alarmed or harassed.

He admitted calling her a thief and a criminal because he claimed she was responsible for stealing from him but denied blocking her path.

He said the chance meeting in Hastings town centre was the first time he had seen her away from the court room and it was the first opportunity he had had to expose his real feelings towards her.

After the incident, Aboro, of Castledown Avenue, Hastings, said he called his solicitor, explained he had had a confrontation with his estranged wife and asked whether he should let the police know.

In court, Aboro said: "I have nothing to say to that woman apart from the obvious.

"It was the first opportunity I had to expose my real feelings outside of court.

"There was a whole plethora of incidents which had built up."

District judge Paul Tain, sitting alone at Hastings Magistrates Court, said he unequivocally believed Aboro's intention was to cause harassment, alarm and distress.

He said: "This is a nasty offence of its type. I regard it seriously and I will be leaving all sentencing options open."

Sentencing was deferred until December 22. Aboro was granted conditional bail.