A ONCE wealthy businessman’s marriage deteriorated in tandem with the decline of his business.

Blackburn magistrates heard Robert Harold Foy and his wife Dawn had bred Purebred Spanish horses, owning more than 50, some worth more than £25,000, at their stud farm in Accrington.

But when his business, Century Seal PVC, began to struggle, Foy turned to drink, culminating in an assault on his wife.

And the court heard a threatening phone call in February had to be viewed against the background of that assault a year earlier which left Mrs Foy with a broken nose and cheek bone, a fractured back and black eyes.

Foy, of Stanley Road, Whitefield, Bury, pleaded guilty to using a public communications network to cause annoyance, inconvenience or anxiety.

He was given a conditional discharge for 18 months, ordered to pay £165 costs and made subject to a restraining order for two years which prohibits him from contact with Dawn Hoy except through lawyers involved in divorce and bankruptcy proceedings.

Charges of criminal damage to a window at Spire Stud farm and of driving while disqualified were discontinued.

Claire Grant, prosecuting, said one night Mrs Hoy received several missed calls and a number of voice mails on which he sounded drunk. When she eventually answered he said: “Don’t put the phone down or I will slice your throat.”

Simon Farnsworth, defending, said his client’s business had been successful until 2007.

“When the businesses got into difficulties his personal life suffered and he began drinking to excess,” said Mr Farnsworth.

“He is about to lose everything he has worked for.

“The bankruptcy court has got its nails very tightly into his case.”