After his Xbox fell from a shelf on Christmas Eve, a husband tired of caring for his blind wife struck her in the head with a butcher cleaver, the court heard today.
After a night of drinking, Jonathan Eldridge, 42, “flipped” when he got home to the couple’s Ryde, Isle of Wight, house and discovered his gaming console and TV had fallen to the floor while he was gone.
According to testimony given in court, he had become “tired” of taking care of his wife Victoria Eldridge and had warned her that “one of us is going to die and it’s not me.”
For the “brutal assault” that left his wife of 12 years bleeding and unconscious, he was sentenced to nine years in prison today.
Mrs. Eldridge is half blind and has epilepsy, the Winchester Crown Court was informed.
In the months before the assault, Mr. Eldridge had become more and more frustrated with taking care of her.
The day before, he made an attempt at suicide, and after being released from the hospital, he binged drank, according to testimony given in court.
According to the prosecutor, Oliver Wellings, “Mr. Eldridge had taken a considerable quantity of ibuprofen in a suicide attempt the day before the event, which he claimed his wife was responsible for.”
You’re constantly saying sorry but it’s not working. Something needs to change, Mr. Eldridge allegedly told his wife over the phone while in the hospital, according to Mr. Wellings. One of us will pass away, and it won’t be me.
“Mr. Eldridge proceeded to Newport and drank three or four beers before taking the bus to Ryde and drinking five or six pints there,” Mr. Wellings said. After that, he took a bus home.
The court was informed that Eldridge and his wife had two different TVs, one for her to watch and one for him to play video games.
Online gaming, especially after lockdown, was a big component of Eldridge’s social life, the court was informed.
It’s probable that when he returned home, he saw that his TV and Xbox had been taken from the shelf, which made him lose it, according to Mr. Wellings.
After that, he went up to his wife with a butcher cleaver.
I’m going to strike you with this meat cleaver, he said. He struck the top of her head once with his fist.
Fortunately, there was no significant brain injury.
The man was discovered motionless on the couch and had lost a large amount of blood. When police and paramedics arrived at the scene, the court was informed.
Earlier this year, Eldridge was tried and convicted guilty of intentionally inflicting great bodily damage.
Mrs. Eldridge said in a witness impact statement presented in court today that she was “still living” with the repercussions of her husband’s behaviour.
She claimed to be having trouble falling asleep and has taken to hiding her head scar in public by donning a scarf.
I’m still anxious about going out, remarked Mrs. Eldridge. When I notice forms, I start to worry about what they could be carrying.
It’s thought that the pair has filed for divorce.
Recorder Barry McElduff sentenced him to nine years in prison and said, “This was a nasty attack. After being released from the hospital, you had a drinking binge that evening.
That evening, you came home and entered via the back door.
“You picked a butcher cleaver as your weapon, clearly intending to do the most harm possible.
The fact that she (your wife) survived was more chance than skill.
“The impact on Mrs. Eldridge has been profound and long-lasting.”
Eldridge, who also received a restraining order, remained silent as his punishment was given.
After the verdict, Hampshire Police Detective Constable Adam Gamble stated: “This was a terrible act of excessive violence that resulted in catastrophic head injuries to a helpless lady.”
There is absolutely no justification for carrying out such a heinous deed on another individual.