100mph Great Harwood dad's double suicide bid

3:39pm Monday 14th April 2008

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A FATHER who threatened to kill himself in a high speed motorway crash tried to stab himself in the heart a month later, it has been revealed.

Former soldier Paul Foley plunged a four-inch knife into his chest while on his ex-wife's doorstep on October 6 2007.

It was the second occasion that Foley had tried to kill himself within the space of four weeks, following the breakdown of his relationship with wife Donna.

Foley had previously sparked a major police operation on September 7, 2007, after threatening to take his own life by crashing at 100mph on the M65.

After driving the wrong way up a slip road at junction 10 Burnley to evade officers who were following him, Foley rammed two police cars before crashing into a sergeant's car.

Foley seriously injured himself with the steak knife in October but was saved by a policeman. PC Graham Hartley stemmed the flow of blood from the wound until paramedics arrived at the Queen Street address in Great Harwood.

The 36-year-old, of Butts Mount, Great Harwood, had been camping with his children when he suddenly became "filled with rage" and went to get a knife, before driving to his wife's home.

He banged on the door and then turned the knife on himself.

Speaking at the time of the incident, Mr Foley said: "I was aiming for my heart. I couldn't cope with the pain of the break-up any longer.

"I don't know how I missed but I did. I didn't think it had gone in so I pulled it out and then the blood started pouring out.

"On two occasions that night I thought I had died. I'm not proud of what I did because of the people I have hurt."

He added: "I regret it in some ways but I also think if I hadn't have done it then I wouldn't be where I am now, moving on with my life and looking forward to the future."

Burnley Crown Court heard that Foley had rowed with his wife earlier before the incident in September and then told his 12-year-old son he loved him but was going to go and crash his car.

He texted a love rival to say it would be his fault if anything happened to him. He failed to pay for £17 of petrol at a garage in Church - but left a note asking the assistant to call the police.

Parts of the M65 were closed for the public's safety before Foley gave himself up at junction eight for Hapton, Huncoat and Padiham.

Foley - said to have had a "wake-up call" following the incident - had earlier admitted dangerous driving and was given a two-year community order, with 100 hours unpaid work, was banned from driving for 12 months and told he must take an extended re-test.