Poisoned tea pensioner escapes jail

William Dowling, 69, of Colne, Lancashire, slipped mercury into Maureen Dowling's tea on at least five occasions because he planned to win her affection when she became ill by nursing her back to health.

Dowling received a 350-day prison sentence, suspended for two years, at Preston Crown Court.

Judge Robert Brown also imposed an 18-month supervision order.

Judge Brown told Dowling, who is deaf in one ear and limps as a result of a stroke 10 years ago: "After the separation she continued to visit you on a regular basis and you provided her, from time to time, with meals and refreshments.

"There is no question here of her becoming involved with another person but you were not satisfied with your situation and you decided to engineer her return to live with you, and the way that you went about it was to administer to her a series of doses of mercury mixed in with her cups of tea.

"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."

Judge Brown said that despite the fact Mrs Dowling suffered from ill health, the levels of mercury found in her body were no higher "than was to be expected in the general population".

He suspended the sentence after acknowledging that Dowling's early guilty plea, his previous good character, and the fact that he was "well respected and liked" in his community and had shown "genuine remorse".

Detective Inspector David Broombridge of Lancashire Police said outside court: "This has been a very unusual case, poisoning fortunately is very rare, but what this case has shown is that very little is beyond the scope of a determined mind. It is a serious, nasty case, and I will remind you of the words of the sentencing judge 'that Mr Dowling's actions were both wicked and potentially fatal'."