Dentist knifed man he found with his wife, court hears

A DENTIST knifed his love rival four times after returning home to find the man had been drinking and taking cocaine with his wife, a court was told yesterday.

Phillip Gale, 50, stabbed Andrew Smith in the chest and back, then told police: ‘Arrest me, I know what I’ve done,’ a jury heard.

It was said Gale later told officers he attacked Mr Smith for giving his wife Jayne Masters, pictured, cocaine and asked them: ‘Is that b ****** still alive?’

The husband was described as ‘proud and boastful about what he had done’.

Mr Smith was taken to hospital but survived. The dentist, who claims he acted in self-defence, went on trial yesterday accused of attempted murder.

Gale and his wife of 13 years had each had extra-marital affairs and ‘lived separate lives’. But in the weeks before the attack they had agreed not to bring lovers back to their home in Foulridge, Lancashire, Preston Crown Court heard.

Describing the 48year-old wife’s ‘complicated’ relationship with Mr Smith, Mark Ryan, prosecuting, said: ‘Phillip Gale strongly objected to this relationship, possibly because of Mr Smith’s habit of taking cocaine and giving cocaine to Miss Masters. Whatever the precise nature of the relationship, everyone seems to agree they were very close. Rightly or wrongly, Phillip Gale believed something sexual was going on.’

Giving evidence yesterday Miss Masters said: ‘My husband didn’t like his lifestyle. He didn’t like his reputation and that is why he didn’t want him in our home. We had a beautiful home. I blame myself.’

On October 16 last year, Gale was on a day trip to Blackpool with friends. Miss Masters invited Mr Smith to the house and they spent the afternoon drinking and taking cocaine, the trial heard – planning he would leave before Gale returned.

But they lost track of time, and when Gale arrived shortly after 9pm, the jury heard he ‘flew into a rage’. Gale told Mr Smith to leave and moments later stabbed him with a carving knife. Mr Smith suffered four wounds – described as lifethreatening. He underwent emergency surgery and spent time in intensive care.

Gale denies attempted murder and wounding with intent.

The case continues.