Man ‘destroyed wife with years of physical and verbal abuse’
A74-YEAR-OLD man who called his wife a “cripple” and threatened to bite off her ear has been jailed.
Geoffrey Pennington “tormented” Amanda Jane Lloyd over three years, in what prosecutor David Mainstone claimed was a “disability hate crime”.
Mold Crown Court heard that Ms Lloyd, 65, secretly recorded Pennington attacking her and went to the police. She is now divorcing him.
Pennington, of Glan yr Eglwys, Northop, was jailed for 28 months for using controlling or coercive behaviour against his wife, who has osteoporosis and other health conditions.
On August 16 last year, Ms Lloyd told Pennington that his tea was ready, but he told her: “Don’t you f ****** tell me when to come in.”
He also refused to take her to a hair appointment so she had to go by taxi.
Pennington went to the pub and returned at 8pm, pouring himself a cider.
He was said to become abusive after drinking. Fearing for her safety, Ms Lloyd began recording their conversation on her mobile phone.
Pennington grabbed her hair and dragged her from room to room, then slapped her and headbutted her above her left eye. He also showered her with spittle until her face was soaking, tried to remove her teeth, and told her he’d bite off her left ear.
He told her he “wanted someone he could f*** three times a day and did not have to push in a wheelchair”, said Mr Mainstone. Ms Lloyd felt “utterly worthless” but was able to call 999.
Mr Mainstone explained that Pennington then put a serrated knife to Ms Lloyd’s throat and said: “Right, b***h, I’m going to kill you and then myself.” But the police then arrived.
Pennington told police that his wife drank too much and often fell and hurt herself.
Ms Lloyd said in her victim impact statement that she was scared of Pennington.
She said that he had “completely destroyed her” and her life was now “nonexistent”. She also said that he once kicked her so hard that she got cellulitis.
Mr Mainstone talked about how she endured humiliation, degradation and fear of violence. He said it was a “disability hate crime” that happened over three years, not just one day.
The court heard recordings of the abuse, and Gareth Bellis, defending, accepted they were “harrowing”.
“He was clearly acting completely and utterly out of control in drink,” said Mr Bellis. But he also said that his client had been looking after his wife and didn’t do it because of hate.
They both felt sad during lockdown because they couldn’t go out or on holidays like before.
Pennington said: “I’ve lost my best friend,” after the judge, His Honour Niclas Parry, told him: “Over three years you tormented your victim mentally and physically, a victim who is vulnerable owing to serious health problems. She has been subjected to disgusting verbal abuse.” He said Pennington had humiliated her by calling her a “worthless cripple”.
But the judge said it was not a disability hate crime. When Pennington was sent to jail, the judge also ruled that he could never contact Ms Lloyd again, go near her street or talk about her on social media.