Estranged husband leaves dead rat in wife’s bed

A woman from Northumberland returned from a fortnight’s holiday in Malaga last August to find a rotting rodent and maggots in her bed.

Carolyn Louise Hook of Liddell Terrace, Widdrington returned home to be greeted by an obnoxious smell coming from her bedroom, when she pulled back the duvet she found the remains of a rat and a mass of maggots wriggling around on her stained sheets. Mrs Hook ran from the property screaming and took refuge at a neighbours. Police immediately suspected Mrs Hook’s estranged husband Christopher, but Mr Hook denied all knowledge of the incident.

When Mr Hook eventually appeared in Newcastle Crown Court this week he pleaded guilty to criminal damage for the mess on his wife’s sheets, a police spokesman said Mr Hook might have escaped with a caution if he had admitted his guilt sooner.

In court Mr Hook explained that he had gone to his wife’s home to collect some personal property. The couple had been separated for some years but had not divorced and had an on/off relationship which Mrs Hook had called to an end just prior to her holiday abroad. On the journey over to Mrs Hook’s home Mr Hook spotted the dead rat in the road and decided to leave it his wife’s bed as a spur of the moment ‘prank’. During mitigation Mr Hook’s solicitor explained that Mr Hook believed his wife had been unfaithful to him and the rat was symbolic of her treachery.

“This was a horrifying and disgusting stunt.” Presiding Judge Esmond Faulks said.

“But I have to say it is only borderline criminal.”

Mr Hook was given a 12 month conditional discharge and told to pay £400 in prosecution costs.

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