A husband is starting a life sentence today for a hammer attack on his wife.

Stephen Croucher hit his wife Cornelia over the head six times after she told him she no longer loved him.

Then he made his wife swear on their children's lives he was not responsible for the attack, telling her to blame an intruder.

But Chelmsford Crown Court heard how police did not believe his story and arrested Croucher.

He was told by Judge Chris Ball QC he was a danger to the public and jailed for life.

Croucher will have to serve at least three-and-a-half years before he is considered for parole.

Judge Ball imposed the life sentence under the "two strikes rule" as Croucher, 47, had a previous conviction for violence involving a weapon.

The court heard Croucher claimed his 5ft tall wife, also 47, had attacked him at their Latchingdon home, near Maldon, and he used the hammer in a bid to get her to stop gripping his private parts.

He denied attempting to murder his wife and a not guilty verdict was entered after the jury failed to reach a verdict on the charge. He denied but was convicted of the lesser charge of causing his wife grievous bodily harm with intent.

Mrs Croucher told the week-long trial how her jealous husband attacked her with a hammer on January 24, 2003, after she said she no longer loved him after 24 years of marriage.

The trial heard she took a heater into the living room where they had been sleeping at their home in Moorhen Avenue, St Lawrence, Latchingdon, and Croucher jumped out of bed and attacked her with the hammer.

Croucher said his wife had attacked him and he said he groped around and found the hammer which he admitted using on his wife.

Published Thursday July 29, 2004

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