Man who attacked wife with axe jailed

A man who hit his wife in the head with an ice axe has been jailed for four years.

Daniel Christian Holden struck his partner three times during the attack in Keswick, Cumbria, leaving her bleeding heavily and struggling to speak.

The 55-year-old had told police he "actually meant to murder her" and had been "mentally unwell".

Holden, who was initially charged with attempted murder, admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court.

The attack happened on 5 July at the couple's guesthouse.

Holden called the ambulance service just before 07:30 BST and told a call handler: "I've attacked my wife. She's very badly injured."

A guest at the property had heard raised voices in the hours before the attack and a neighbour had heard shouting, the court was told.

Holden told the first police officer to arrive at the scene "she might drop dead at any second".

As he was taken from the scene, Holden told his wife: "I'm going to jail. I'm so sorry. I love you."

The victim described being attacked after her husband called her to a bedroom and sat her on a bed.

She suffered a fractured skull and brain bruising, but has since made a successful recovery and was intending to return to work as a therapist.

Holden was described as being delusional and paranoid during the months before his attack, and anxious about undiagnosed health problems.

His wife told police she was aware of him previously drinking, taking drugs and not working.

She told police she did not want to press charges or get him into trouble, instead saying she wanted him to receive professional help.

Judge Nicholas Barker revealed Holden's wife had written him a letter, pleading for mercy.

"I do accept, Daniel Holden, that you are deeply remorseful for your actions," the judge told him as he passed sentence.

But he said of the attack: "Within your mental state there was a premeditation to your actions. This was not an off-the-cuff, spontaneous event."

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