A PENSIONER has admitted poisoning his estranged wife by putting mercury in her cups of tea.

Grandfather William Dowling was hoping to cause “mild upset” to his wife so he could look after her and rekindle their relationship, a court heard.

The 69-year-old, of Linden Road, Colne, admitted administering poison or a noxious substance with intent to injure, aggrieve or annoy his wife after they had split up.

He denied the more serious allegation of administering the poison with intent to endanger the life of Maureen Dowling, and the pleas were accepted by the prosecution at Preston Crown Court.

The victim, who was married to the defendant for more than 30 years, is still suffering from the after-effects of the mercury doses, the court was told.

Dowling will be sentenced on August 7 after Judge Stuart Baker studies background reports on the retired electrician, who has no previous convictions.

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, the court was told.

Paul Lewis, defending, said Dowling admitted that when his wife Maureen visited him, he had sought to cause her mild upset so she would want him to care for her and resurrect the relationship.

The offence was committed between January and April lst this year.

Mrs Dowling was in the habit of visiting him for lunch every Saturday, and had started to feel unwell.

Her doctor contacted police after she had complained of headaches, memory loss and indigestion.

Dowling, who had kept a jar of mercury in his cellar, was remanded on conditional bail.

Judge Baker told him: “You must understand that, although you have pleaded guilty to the less serious of the two charges brought against you, the offence which you have admitted must be regarded as a serious offence.”

He added: “You must understand that when you return to this court a prison sentence is one of the range of possible options.”

Speaking after the case, Det Insp Dave Groombridge said: "Any offence designed or intended to injure people is a priority for the police but where that offence is pre-meditated, planned and executed with malice a firm police response will always follow.

“Mr Dowling chose to poison his ex-wife for reasons best known to himself using a mercury compound, the origins of which he refused to divulge.

The effects of its ingestion are still being felt by the victim.

“Thankfully, owing to the advances in medical and forensic science poisoning in its many guises is rare but, as this case illustrates, not beyond the scope of a determined mind.”