Wife put excrement in man's curry

Jill Martin, 47, pleaded guilty at Paisley Sheriff Court to culpable and reckless conduct against husband Donald Martin.

During the hearing, defence solicitor Terry Gallanagh likened the case to "an episode of Desperate Housewives".

Sheriff G.W.Sinclair deferred sentence on Martin until 1 November.

Depute Fiscal Margaret Dunnipace told the court that on 13 March, after placing the dinner in front of her husband Donald and watching him start to eat it, Martin had burst out laughing.

"At that time, she believed he had started an affair although those fears turned out to be unfounded"
Terry Gallanagh
Defence agent

At first she claimed she had laced the dish with arsenic but then confessed she had added dog excrement instead.

The court heard that the couple had been married for 21 years but in recent years their relationship "had hit an all time low".

Mr Gallanagh claimed that his client had endured "continued mental abuse" over a period of about five years which had taken its toll on her.

Divorce proceedings

He said Mr Martin had routinely questioned his wife's parental skills and had started a new business venture without her knowledge.

He added: "At that time, she believed he had started an affair although those fears turned out to be unfounded."

Following her arrest for the incident, Martin was banned from going anywhere near her husband or the matrimonial home in Langrig Road, Newton Mearns.

The couple have now begun divorce proceedings.

Deferring sentence until 1 November, Sheriff Sinclair said that he felt it would be wise to allow more time for matters to be resolved and ordered Martin to be of good behaviour.