The man who poisoned his estranged wife's tea with mercury

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A man who poisoned his estranged wife's tea with mercury has been given a 350-day suspended sentence.

William Dowling, 69, from Colne, Lancashire, 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.

Judge Robert Brown, sentencing, said it was only "good luck" that Mrs Dowling did not suffer serious harm.

She suffered symptoms including forgetfulness, indigestion and headaches, but experts said the mercury had no serious adverse effect on her health.

But police later said she had been left feeling "very fragile, both physically and mentally" by her ordeal. - BBC News