Man jailed for beating his elderly wife to death

A man who beat his elderly wife to death after a row over the heating has been jailed for five years.

Douglas Bailey, 74, of Rilshaw Lane, Winsford, pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility at Chester Crown Court.

Hazel Bailey, aged 82, was found dead at their bungalow on Friday 7 September 2012.

She had suffered a sustained and brutal assault and died as a result of blunt trauma to the head caused my multiple blows.

Detective Inspector Helen Spooner said:

Bailey had been married to Hazel for 45 years prior to her death. They were both retired and had no children.

Friends close to the couple described Bailey as having changed in the years before the attack with his nerves getting the better of him, and him becoming very agitated and highly strung.

Hazel began to suffer with sciatica in July 2012, which limited her mobility and she was assisted by a neighbour. Bailey did not appear to have any sympathy for her condition.

Hazel was killed at sometime between September 5th and 7th. On the afternoon of Friday 7 September 2012, two window cleaners were at the house cleaning the windows as normal when Bailey came out in his pyjamas and paid them. They noticed that his pyjamas were blood stained down the front and he told them he had suffered a nose bleed.

Concerned with the account and the fact Bailey had paid them when it was usually his wife, one of the window cleaners mentioned what they had seen to a neighbour.

Inquiries led to Hazel?s body being discovered on the floor of her bedroom by a neighbour who went round to check on what she had been told.

Bailey admitted to her that he had killed Hazel and the police were called.

Bailey confessed to police that after having an argument with Hazel about the heating bill he lost his temper and attacked her while she was in bed. The assault led to her falling out of bed to the floor where he assaulted her again. He then left her alone and returned to his bedroom.

When he went back to her he realised she was dead but he did not seek any help.

Bailey was charged with murder on 9 September 2012 and subsequently pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility after evidence was provided that he was suffering from dementia.