A spurned husband who kidnapped his terrified wife saying he was going to kill them both has walked free from court.

Marc Hopkins accosted Kirsty Hopkins in her pyjamas at 3.30am on September 28.

Mrs Hopkins was staying with her friend after leaving him after he had thrown her down the stairs.

He forced her into his car and kidnapped her for two hours telling her that he couldn't live without her and that if he couldn't have her no one else would.

Hopkins, 39, of Rowacres, Hengrove, pleaded guilty on the day of his trial to kidnapping Mrs Hopkins on September 28 last year and to assaulting her on September 22.

The sentence has devastated Mrs Hopkins, 33, who said the experience ruined her life.

After the hearing she said: "I am very disappointed by the sentence. I feel that I have been let down.

"He admitted all the charges against him but has walked free while my life has been destroyed."

Her representative Beverley Watkins, from Watkin's Solicitors, said she would be writing to the CPS to ask them to consider referring the matter to the Attorney General.

At Bristol crown Court Kate Brunner, prosecuting, said: "The complainant was at a friend's house and she was telephoned by the defendant to say he was outside.

"She assumed that he was there to speak about arranging to hand over property. She went outside and he was in a car and looked in the boot but there were none of her possessions.

"However there was a length of clear pipe, a rucksack and a black bag.

"The defendant got out of the car and started shouting at her and pushed her against the boot of the car.

"She was pushed into the boot of the car so that she fell on to her back. A passerby intervened and she asked the passerby to call police. and took the opportunity to climb out.

"The defendant then grabbed her, pushed her up against the wall and shoved her into the rear passenger seat of the car.

"He drove off making comments that it was not over, that he couldn't live without her and that if he couldn't have her nobody else could either.

"She was terrified by the whole experience. He indicated to her that he was going to kill both of them and with that in mind he gestured to the clear piping in the back.

"He then took some diazepam and became drowsy and she took the opportunity to get in the front seat, drive back to her friend's house and run off when they arrived.

"The defendant was the arrested and taken into custody. He had kidnapped her for approximately two hours."

Giles Nelson, defending, said his client had no previous convictions and that the incident took place just days after his wife had walked out on him.

"I don't want to detract from the level of fear that Mrs Hopkins was experiencing but it is clear that the defendant seemed to be more concerned or emotionally involved in his own future than anybody else's," he said.

Judge Julian Lambert told Hopkins: "Offences of kidnap and making threats to kill are almost inevitably met with a significant custodial sentence.

"You have committed very serious offences against your ex-wife. The kidnap was a relatively short period of time for an offence of this nature but it must have felt like a lifetime to her. The threats to kill must have also terrified her.

"Your ex-wife will no doubt feel let down by the sentence that I am going to pass. If you do not behave and change your attitude I will give you the custodial sentence you richly deserve."

Hopkins was given a three-year community order with condition of residence for three years and a supervision requirement for two years. He must also do 240 hours unpaid work and has a six-month curfew between 8pm and 5am. On December 1 he will return to court so Judge Lambert can see that he is complying with the order.