Advertisement

Wife Jailed For Attempt To 'Boil Her Husband'

Wife Jailed For Attempt To 'Boil Her Husband'

A woman has been jailed for four years for pouring scalding water over her husband, leaving him with first and second degree burns to his body.

Ken Gregory, 65, was attacked by his wife, Teresa Gilbertson, a former special constable, at their bungalow in Peterborough last April after he told her he wanted a divorce.

The retired BT manager suffered blistering to 14% of his body stretching from his scalp to his lower back, and some scars may never fade.

Prosecutor Thomas Brown told Peterborough Crown Court Gilbertson, 60, set out to "boil her husband".

"The marriage had become extremely strained and there were underlying difficulties concerning money, the conduct of Teresa Gilbertson and her unrealistic expectation of what he could provide", he said.

Sentencing her for causing grievous bodily harm with intent, judge Peter Murphy said he saw "no remorse" from Gilbertson, and also issued a restraining order preventing her from approaching Mr Gregory.

"He told you he wanted a divorce and feelings were running high. The pouring of hot water is the use of a weapon and you clearly intended to injure him but mercifully his injuries were not more serious," he said.

Gilbertson had claimed the incident was an accident, but any decision to pour water over her husband was spontaneous.

Speaking after the conviction, Mr Gregory said it was important to challenge the stigma surrounding men who are victims of abuse.

The court heard that three weeks before the incident she had thrown tea over him while he slept.

The couple met through ballroom dancing following the death of Mr Gregory's first wife of more than 30 years in 2008.

But they are now in the process of getting divorced.