AN 82-year-old war veteran who beat his wife for not doing the housework avoided jail after she issued a personal plea to a judge.

Wilfred Handley, of Pleckgate Road, Blackburn was yesterday handed a two month suspended sentence and a nine months probation order at Preston Crown Court.

He had previously admitted causing his wife of 50 years, Renee, 83, grievous bodily harm.

She suffered two broken arms and serious cuts and bruises to her head when he attacked her with his walking stick at their home late on July 22.

Mrs Handley, who required surgery for her head injuries and was poorly in hospital for several weeks, has since moved out of their marital home into sheltered accommodation.

But although the attack spelled the end of their relationship, her husband escaped prison after the court heard she did not want him to lose his liberty.

"While she wants Mr Handley to be punished for what he did, she does not want him to go to prison," prosecutor, Neil Standage said.

He added that the couple had been drinking hours before the attack. At around 9pm Mrs Handley had gone downstairs to "make sure the property was secure."

As she did so, the victim recalled to police how Mr Handley: "Hit me with a walking stick, a big thick one he got from the hospital."

Mr Standage added: "She remembers being hit over again and again. And said it was at least four times and while he was doing it he called her a 'bastard'".

"During interview he admitted hitting her with a walking stick and said the main reason was she was not carrying out her duties of cleaning and cooking as she should be doing."

Defending the OAP, Mark Stuart said neighbours described his client as "a changed man" after suffering a tumble down his stairs four months before the incident.

The fall left him needing to use a stick to walk and a sense of frustration that he was not as mobile as he once was.

"It had been the case that he did the outside jobs and his wife did the jobs indoors and he became very frustrated he could not do them as he had previously done," he said.

Sentencing the pensioner, Judge Foster QC said: "You are 82 years of age and have lived an outstanding life, you have fought for your country and worked to support yourself and others. But on the evening of July 21 your behaviour was out of character and something I'm sure fills you with much regret and remorse."