42-year-old Jonathan Eldridge, who attacked his blind wife with a meat cleaver on Christmas Eve last year, has today (Thursday) been jailed for 9 years.
Eldridge called the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service to his home address on West Street, Ryde at around 22:20 on Friday 24th December. He told call handlers that he had struck his wife in the head with a meat cleaver.
The incident came about after Eldridge returned home to find his TV and Xbox had been pulled off a shelf. He had been out drinking and had consumed 8-10 pints.
Police officers and paramedics responded to the address where they found the victim unresponsive on the sofa, having suffered significant blood loss. A crime scene cordon was established and officers remained present throughout Christmas Day.
The 42-year-old was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder but was subsequently charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
At the Isle of Wight Crown Court on 3rd March this year, Eldridge entered a plea to causing grievous bodily harm without intent, but this was rejected and the case proceeded to trial in Winchester on Monday 13th June. During the trial at Winchester, the jury was told how Eldridge continued to ask ‘why did I do this’ following his arrest.
The jury found him guilty and he was remanded to appear at Winchester Crown Court today, where Mr Recorder Barry McElduff handed Elridge a 9-year prison sentence.
Following today’s sentencing, DC Adam Gamble has said:
“This was a shocking infliction of extreme violence which left a vulnerable woman with serious head injuries.
“There is simply no excuse whatsoever to commit such a horrific act against another person.
“People have the right to feel safe anywhere, in particular their own home. Domestic abuse is an awful crime which sees victims suffer abuse, whether this be psychological or physical violence, at the hands of those closest to them.
“Tackling perpetrators of domestic abuse is a priority for us, and we want more people to have the confidence to speak out about what is largely an under-reported type of crime.”
Samantha Lawrence, CPS Wessex Senior Crown Prosecutor, said:
“Jonathan Eldridge was also his wife’s carer and ultimately someone that she should have been able to trust to look after her and keep her safe from harm.
“Working in partnership with the police to build a strong case, we used witness statements, medical and forensic evidence to prove that he intended to cause his wife serious injury when he attacked her.”
Suzanne Llewellyn, CPS Wessex Chief Crown Prosecutor, added:
“The prosecution of perpetrators of domestic abuse is one of our priorities and it is our aim to secure justice in every possible case.
“We have a dedicated and skilled prosecution team who are ready to prosecute domestic abuse cases whenever our legal test is met.”
you can see he’s an alcoholic just looking in his eyes
he looks like a nutter
Probably be out for Xmas 2026, he can do it again.
Reasonably justifiable long sentence, however he could be released in less than five years time. He poor disabled wife on the other hand will have to bear both the physical and mental scars for the rest of her life.
How can this NOT be a attempted murder charge? Excuse the pun but it’s the courts and the CPS who’ve made a hatchet job on this case.
Because he was found guilty by a jury, he will be in prison for the full term. If he had pleaded guilty to the charge, then he would serve half, with half out on license.
Out on license? In other words freedom! with the occasional visit from the police. Surely anyone as brutal as this guy should serve the maximum jail time the courts have in their powers to impose. Personally if his poor wife was a relative than I’d have no qualms exacting my own justice.
He will serve the WHOLE 9 years, so he will not be released any earlier than 2031.
I think you have to try and avoid instinctive reactions and revulstions and realise that it can only be an attempted murder charge if it can be proved that, at the time of the attack, he intended murdering his victim. Taking the course they did, the CPS ensured a positive verdict.
I went to school with him,trying to think of more to say but just cant think of much apart from his sentence no way long enough
Did he go Cowes high? I know the name but don’t recognise him But I would of seen the it since 96 ish Should of got longer His wife was blind How’s 9 yrs going to help his wife Throw the key away He new his wife couldn’t defend herself
Strange outcome, if you go at somebody with a meat cleaver you intend to kill, there is no “just a tap” option, so it could only be attempted murder? he is obviously very brave to attack a blind woman..
I may be wrong, but I believe murder is specifically when a person makes plans in advance to kill another, it’s premeditated. If their plans fail, then it becomes attempted murder. This is a dreadful assault and deserves strong punishment but I don’t think a charge of attempted murder would hold up under English law. The ‘with intent’ part of the charge relates to the fact that, in a drunken rage, he took a weapon and intended to do harm at that time, but he had not (presumably) planned to kill the victim in advance. Not trying to defend the man in any way, shape or form, just to understand the reason for the charge against him under the law.
What scum , and probably out drinking the careers allowances he gets to look after his wife .
Deserves all he gets and maybe just hopefully he get a bloody good slap from the other inmates when they know what he’s in for ha ha ha
You lot have no idea what this guy was going through and how much he suffered at the hands of his ‘blind’ partner..
this has been made out to be all his fault when in fact he suffered years of abuse from her although she portrayed to be fully blind she is not. I’ve witnessed her abusing him for fun and laugh at him when covers his head when she was hitting him and when she was pulled away multiple times. What a joke you all are with your comments about him without knowing the full story
There’s always another side to a story, unfortunately many of the commentators haven’t the intellect to come to a rational decision. I don’t condone his actions at all but thank goodness we have a justice system and it’s not down to the “Lynch mob” to deal with things.
Why not just put it out of it’s misery…more scum will be along soon…
Form an orderly queue ladies….
“Next up on Take Me Out is this loveable rogue…..”
He looks like his soul has left his body
It should have been a attempted murder charge
He should never be allowed to be part of society again. Attempted murder? A meat cleaver? And he only got 9 years. He’ll be out in half that time. So wrong.
Why are carers, who are paid by us tax payers not checked on. Care homes get spot checks & are made examples of if found to be failing in their duties. But it amazes me how many bone idol blokes choose this so called caring for a loved one as an easy way of dodging true hard work. Don’t get me wrong, caring is very hard work for those carrying out the roll correctly. But a carer who is drunk & wants to play with video games can hardly be classed as doing the job correctly. Perhaps they both needed checking on!
You have ni idea what you’re talking about. Try it.