Man who poisoned wife's tea to be sentenced

William Dowling put the poison in her tea because he wanted her to fall ill so he could look after her and resurrect their relationship.

The 69-year-old electrician administered the mercury on a handful of occasions but denied ever trying to cause her serious harm, Preston Crown Court heard earlier this month.

Prosecutor Mark Lamberty said Maureen Dowling, 64, moved out of the family home in Linden Road, Colne, Lancashire, after the marriage broke down four years ago but continued to visit regularly.

He said Mrs Dowling began to "experience symptoms" following her visits including forgetfulness, indigestion and headaches.

When she visited her estranged husband on Friday, February 13 last year he poured her a cup of tea and she noticed ball bearings at the bottom of the cup.

Mr Lamberty said: "She showed that to her daughter Julie and commented she had noticed that in her cup before and it always appeared to be the situation that the defendant made the tea.

"She said there were four or five occasions she had noticed that in the past. She commented and he riposted 'they must be coming off the kettle' and in another comment 'they must be coming off the teabags'."

Mr Lamberty said that when Julie, 43, examined the contents of the cup, which appeared to be liquid metal, "the defendant seized the cup from her, threw the contents into the bin and appeared agitated".

When Mrs Dowling noticed the silvery substance in her teacup the following week, the defendant told her he really must clean the kettle, Mr Lamberty said.

Dowling was arrested on April 1. Mr Lamberty said that when officers searched his home, they spotted him sliding the floral china mug into a drawer.

He told officers: "I hid it because I know what would happen if you found it."

Mr Lamberty said the effects on Mrs Dowling were "devastating", causing her to lose her self-confidence and a family rift.

Paul Lewis, for the defence, said: "His intent was simply to annoy and aggravate his wife and cause her an upset stomach.

"He wanted her to feel dependent on him and by that resurrect the relationship, which by that point was crumbling."

Dowling, a father of two who has 14 grandchildren, admits administering a poison or noxious substance with intent to injure, aggrieve or annoy between January and April.

He denies the more serious charge of administering the poison to endanger life or cause grievous bodily harm.

Dowling will be sentenced at Preston Crown Court at 10.30am.