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| Suspended term for tea poison man | |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| A man from Lancashire who poisoned his ex-wife's tea with mercury has been given a 350-day suspended sentence. | A man from Lancashire who poisoned his ex-wife's tea with mercury has been given a 350-day suspended sentence. |
| William Dowling, 69, from Colne, poisoned 64-year-old Maureen Dowling's drink so she would become ill and dependent on him. | William Dowling, 69, from Colne, poisoned 64-year-old Maureen Dowling's drink so she would become ill and dependent on him. |
| At Preston Crown Court, Dowling admitted administering a poison with intent to injure, aggrieve or annoy. | At Preston Crown Court, Dowling admitted administering a poison with intent to injure, aggrieve or annoy. |
| Mrs Dowling had moved out of the family home after their 28-year relationship broke down four years ago. | Mrs Dowling had moved out of the family home after their 28-year relationship broke down four years ago. |
| She suffered symptoms including forgetfulness, indigestion and headaches but experts said the mercury had no serious adverse effect on her health. | |
| 'Controlling attitude' | 'Controlling attitude' |
| Dowling, an electrician, faced a maximum sentence of five years in jail, the court heard. | Dowling, an electrician, faced a maximum sentence of five years in jail, the court heard. |
| Judge Robert Brown, sentencing Dowling on Friday, told him his wife left him because "she had become fed-up of what she regarded as your controlling attitude towards her". | Judge Robert Brown, sentencing Dowling on Friday, told him his wife left him because "she had become fed-up of what she regarded as your controlling attitude towards her". |
| He said: "In judging the seriousness of the crime you committed, your... wanting her to return to your care is irrelevant. | He said: "In judging the seriousness of the crime you committed, your... wanting her to return to your care is irrelevant. |
| Maureen Dowling left her husband four years ago | |
| "What is relevant is that you are not a medical expert and it follows from that that it was more by good luck than anything else that your wife did not suffer serious harm." | "What is relevant is that you are not a medical expert and it follows from that that it was more by good luck than anything else that your wife did not suffer serious harm." |
| As well as the jail term, which was suspended for two years, the judge also imposed an 18-month supervision order. | As well as the jail term, which was suspended for two years, the judge also imposed an 18-month supervision order. |
| Despite the couple splitting up in 2005, Mrs Dowling continued to visit her estranged husband for meals and refreshments, the court heard. | |
| Mr Dowling claimed he began administering mercury in her tea as a way of getting her to return to live with him. | |
| The judge added: "That was not only a wicked way of treating your wife it was also potentially fatal. Fortunately your plan was discovered before any serious harm had been caused." | |
| Given the highly toxic nature of mercury, Mrs Dowling has been left very poorly and is still receiving medical attention Det Sgt Charles Haynes Lancashire Police | |
| The court heard despite her ill health, the level of mercury found in Mrs Dowling's body was no higher than the average person. | |
| Judge Brown suspended Dowling's sentence after acknowledging his early guilty plea, his previous good character, and the fact he was "well respected" and had shown "genuine remorse". | |
| Speaking after the hearing, Det Sgt Charles Haynes said it had been a "difficult, sensitive and unusual" case to investigate. | |
| He said: "Dowling clearly demonstrated controlling and manipulative behaviour, which could have eventually had fatal consequences. | |
| "Given the highly toxic nature of mercury, Mrs Dowling has been left very poorly and is still receiving medical attention. | |
| "Thankfully incidents of poisoning are extremely rare but this case illustrates that due to advances in medical and forensic science the perpetrators of such crimes will be brought before the courts for punishment." |