British actor Gary Shail has been put on a restraining order after he admitted launching into a violent, drink-fuelled rampage.

Shail, who starred in the cult 1979 movie version of The Who's rock opera Quadrophenia, screamed abuse at his girlfriend and smashed a marble table worth $1,600 (£1,000) during the incident at her home in Southsea, England.

He also broke her phone and threatened to kill himself with a knife, according to a report published in British newspaper The Sun.

Shail, a recovering alcoholic who has also enjoyed roles in U.K. Tv shows Dempsey and Makepeace, The Bill, and Casualty, blamed a booze binge for his behaviour.

He admitted assault and criminal damage and was put under a restraining order and a supervision order.