Retired engineer, 77, from Bury, 'snapped and attacked wife of 61 years'

Michael Fentem kicked spouse of 61 years Dorothy so hard her toe broke, strangled her until she could barely breathe and stuffed clothes and tissues into her mouth to stop her wailing.

The retired factory engineer from Bury drank heavily and lose his temper after Mrs Fentem, 76, suffered health issues and he was left on his own to look after her.

Police were alerted in May after paramedics were called to the couple’s home in Heapy Close, near Ainsworth, following a report Mrs Fentem had fallen over.

She told officers she had been repeatedly attacked by her husband over the previous eight months.

Mrs Fentem said: “’It’s all my fault he wouldn’t be like this except for me.’’

The couple are now being supported by carers from adult social services, Manchester magistrates heard.

Fentem who admitted assault and controlling behaviour broke down and sobbed as he apologised to his wife, who is standing by him and who watched proceedings from the public gallery.

“I”m shattered to be here,” he told the hearing.

“I have thought about it every day and I’m just disgusted with myself and sorry I ever did it. I don’t think the support will ever be enough although they are helping me now and taking notice.

“I have to do everything around the house and care for my wife. I’m not trying to blame anybody else for what happened. I did it, I’m guilty and I shouldn’t have done it.”

The court heard the couple wed at 16 and had been happily married for 61 years, with a grown-up son. But tensions between them emerged when paramedics were called at 6pm on May 18 after Mrs Fentem claimed she had fallen over and hurt herself.

Paul Sumner, prosecuting, said: “Whilst speaking to the paramedics she disclosed to them she had been the victim of an assault and paramedics contacted the police.

“When they arrived, the victim disclosed that over the last eight months her husband had been physically assaulting her. In the latest incident she said defendant had stuffed clothes and tissues into her mouth to prevent her from screaming. He had also put a pillow over her mouth to stifle her screams.

“She told them he had kicked her previously causing her to have a broken toe and she went on to say she didn’t know what to do about it as she still loved him and didn’t want to give a statement to police.

‘’She said she was frightened when he kicked off and she was frightened, he might kill her. She said: ‘It’s all my fault he wouldn’t be like this except for me.’

“The victim showed officers her latest injuries which was bruising to both eyes where he had punched and slapped her and bruising to the neck where he had strangled her.

“The defendant was arrested and taken to the police station where he admitted over the past eight months he had been hitting, shaking and slapping the victim. He said he didn’t have a drinking problem but said it ‘fuels the fire’.

“Asked about the most recent event he said his wife was in the garden and he had made an evening meal and opened a bottle of wine, the victim had two glasses he drank the rest of the bottle and a couple of beers.

“Something set his tempter off and he was shaking the victim by the neck in bed and slapping her in the arms.

“He said he didn’t feel too drunk but alcohol was a factor when he loses his temper.

“He stated her eyes were red so he might have slapped her face and accepted he held a pillow over her face at one point.

“He accepted the neck injuries were possibly from his hands grabbing her round the throat.

“He was asked about his wife’s reaction and he said she had told him he needed help saying: ‘don’t hurt me Mike, please, please Mike’.

‘’He was asked if he had covered her mouth and he said: ‘I usually use my hand to cover her mouth but last night I may have used a pillow’.

“The officer noted the defendant did show remorse and it was clear that he was very emotional about the subject. The victim didn’t wish to provide a formal statement.”

In mitigation, Lorna Wincote said: “They have been married for 61 years and like every relationship there has been ups and downs - if you wrote most people’s relationships into a report it wouldn’t be flowers and chocolates.

“On the whole they have had a really happy, loving marriage but Mrs Fentem struggles with health issues and they have been left alone to deal with that.

‘’He is 77, he is retired gentleman with a lot of responsibility at a time in your life when that wouldn’t usually be the case.

“That amount of pressure has been too much and has resulted in this horrible scenario where we have got a marriage of this duration, a man with no previous convictions and a lady struggling with her health before the magistrates court.

“If you put anyone under too much pressure eventually something is going to give, and this is what has happened here.

“Adult social services are now involved as they should have been throughout. There is now some intervention and some prevention in place.

“They are going to be given assistance with personal care. You have to ask yourself if they had intervened before, would we be here and my submission is we wouldn’t.’’

Fentem was given 26 weeks jail, suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to complete 25 rehabilitation requirement days and pay £207 in costs and surcharges.

Magistrate Wallen Matthie told him: “You certainly need some help and assistance and it is good to hear social services are involved. You need to seek help and make sure that you get as much as possible.”