Pig’s blood revenge on peer ‘just like a Jilly Cooper novel’
Ex-olympic showjumper who daubed messages in flat of cheating lover Lord Prior avoids prison term
A FORMER Olympic showjumper, who used pig’s blood to daub lewd messages inside a Tory peer’s home after discovering he was cheating on her with the wife of another Lord, has avoided a prison sentence.
Lizzie Purbrick, 63, who was part of Great Britain’s equestrian team in the 1980 Moscow Olympics, took revenge on Lord Prior of Brampton, after catching him in the arms of another woman.
After obtaining eight litres of pig’s blood from a friend who was a butcher, she let herself into his South London flat and used a garden sprayer to paint the words “whore”, “lady slut” and “big d--- lord” on the walls.
She also drew a penis on the floor before emptying the remainder of the pig’s blood everywhere and then leaving a cheque for £1,000.
Purbrick had been in a relationship with the 63-year-old married former Tory MP for around eight years and said she had “passionately” loved him.
But she was devastated in May to discover his affair with another peer’s wife, who was only identified as Mags.
Appearing at Camberwell magistrates’ court, Purbrick from King’s Lynn, Norfolk, admitted one charge of criminal damage and was sentenced to 120 hours of community service. Defending, Simon Nicholls said: “This whole case has the feel of something lifted straight out of the pages of a Jilly Cooper novel.”
Mr Nicholls said the pair, both estranged from their respective married partners, had been in a relationship for several years. He said: “To put this delicately, this comes to an end when she discovers him in the arms of another woman, who is married to another member of the House of Lords. The whole incident she describes as cathartic and she’s now moved on.”
Mr Nicholls also said Purbrick’s brother had been diagnosed with terminal cancer at the time and had ended his own life just three days ago.
Sentencing her, District Judge Susan Green, said: “She wrote highly abusive slogans on the walls and on the floor. They are in my view quite appalling. I do not accept for a moment this was spontaneous. This was clearly planned and premeditated.”
The court heard the use of pig’s blood had been deliberate because Lord Prior bred the animals and would find it upsetting.
Speaking outside court, Purbrick said: “I am relieved not to go to prison. She was a very nice judge.” She added: “We were together for eight years. I was all set up to be Lady Prior.”
Purbrick said Lord Prior, who is the son of Jim Prior, the former cabinet minister, had billed her £15,000 for the redecoration of the flat, but she had not paid it.
Asked who the woman referred to as Mags was, Purbrick simply said she had a “delicious” husband who had been “woefully wronged”.
As well as the community service, Purbrick was ordered to pay costs of £85, plus a victim surcharge £85. The court also issued a restraining order, preventing her from making contact with the Tory peer or visiting any of his three homes.