A PENSIONER has appeared before Burnley magistrates accused of poisoning his estranged wife by putting mercury in her tea.

William Terry Dowling, a 69 year-old grandfather, is alleged to have used mercury from a supply he is said to have kept in a jar in the cellar of his home on Linden Road, Colne.

Dowling, a retired electrician who had been married to Maureen Dowling for about 35 years before they split up about four or five years-ago, has lived in Colne all his life.

Mrs Dowling is not divorced from the defendant, but left the matrimonial home to live in a flat. She would still visit her husband each Saturday for lunch and every other Thursday.

She is said to have started feeling un-well over the last few months, suffering memory loss, severe headaches and indigestion. Her doctor contacted the police.

Yesterday Dowling was brought before the justices to face an allegation of administering poison with intent to endanger life or inflict grievous bodily harm between January 1 and March 31 this year at Colne.

The defendant appeared in the dock in custody after being arrested at his home on April 1.

The allegation he is charged with carries a jail term of up to 10 years on conviction.

The magistrates sent his case to Burnley Crown Court for a hearing on July 13.

The defendant was given conditional bail but the crown is to appeal the magistrates’ decision and Dowling was kept in custody until he appears before a judge in chambers, probably on Monday.