Man attacked wife with a chainsaw

A MAN was told yesterday he faces a life sentence for attacking his solicitor wife with a chainsaw, leaving her needing 50 stitches to her head and surgery to reattach an ear.

Patrick Darragh, 52, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent on his wife, Claire Bates, at their Northamptonshire home in May this year.

The civil engineer, who was also jailed in 1998 for slashing his then-partner across the throat, attacked Ms Bates with a chainsaw during an argument outside Denford Lodge Cottages in Denford, near Thrapston.