An evening of bingo took a sinister turn in March last year, when a pensioner launched an unprovoked attack on his wife of 40-years, outside their local bingo hall. George Cressey, a 71-year old (at the time) from Kingston upon Hull, made his way over to the bingo hall where he saw his wife sitting at a table outside.

Fuelled by alcohol…

…Mr Cressey shoved his wife off her seat resulting in her hitting her face on the edge of her table before landing on the hard floor. The then 86-year old woman was covered in blood and in a lot of pain.

The attack was recorded on CCTV outside the Hull branch of Buzz Bingo and was recently used to show prosecutors (at Thornton Court in Hull) how the attack unfolded. Despite his wife laying in a pool of blood and writhing in agony, Mr Cressey stood up from the table and walked away.

Hull Live reported that since the incident, Mrs Cressey has moved out from the marital home and has no contact with her former husband. The court also heard that the elderly woman suffered a broken shoulder bone and as a result, was on morphine for the pain.

The Evidence:

Phillip Evans, prosecuting said: “(The victim), now a lady of 87-years-old, and the defendant has gone to Buzz Bingo hall for the day to play bingo. They had a convivial day, with each of them partaking in alcoholic liquor at the bingo venue. At around 3.30pm, (the victim) went to sit outside and was joined by the defendant and the events that unfolded were then captured on CCTV.

Staff were left in distress to see Mrs Cressey covered in blood and laying in a pool of blood and were astonished that the defendant paid little heed to the condition of his wife, but he did go in the ambulance with her to Hull Royal Infirmary, where he gave abuse about remarks made about the claimant’s condition.

(The victim) had little recollection of what took place, but following the push by the defendant, Mrs Cressey struck the bridge of her nose on the table edge and this caused a cut. In the fall she also sustained a fracture to her humerus where it connects with the shoulder. Dr Benjamin Lambert confirmed that the fracture was in the arm bone close to the shoulder and facial injuries due to cuts and bruises.”

Evans continued: “The facial wound was closed with tape and Mrs Cressey was admitted to hospital for observation to see how the fracture healed. She was treated with a sling, but the pain was indeed severe as the pain relief for her included prescribing morphine.

The physiotherapists were first unable to at first carry out an assessment as Mrs Cressey was in too much pain. In the end, it was thought right to discharge Mrs Cressey to Thornton Court, an assisted living unit where her needs could be met. Whilst Mrs Cressey was at Thornton Court, the defendant arrived inebriated and wanted moneybut was sent away. This was the only occasion, almost a year ago, when contact has taken place.

Mrs Cressey has also not enjoyed the best of health and survived a heart attack and was left with high blood pressure as a result. The injury had a substantial impact on Mrs Cressey, who was vulnerable by reason of her age, which meant the injury sustained caused more harm than it would to someone younger and more able bodied.”

And His Punishment?

The severity of the attack warrants jail time. However, the age of the man plays a key part in the sentencing. David Godfrey, defending Cressey said “The defendant’s initial representation was that it was an accident and a misunderstanding and when I showed him the CCTV, he was shocked and entered a guilty plea.

He was horrified and there was a degree of confusion as to what happened. In the last 12 months his health has deteriorated significantly, and it seems that his wife was his strength in the relationship as she sorted his life out, and he has since become isolated.

He doesn’t have any clear understanding as to why he did it and one factor could be that it was committed whilst in drink and that could add to the confusion at the time. Through me, he wants to express his severe regret.”

Judge David Tremberg offered two options to Mr Cressey…

…jail time or rehabilitation. At first, the elderly gentleman refused the therapy but after a short break, he decided that this would be the best option for him. He was sentenced to 9-months suspended for two-years and he must complete a 40-day rehabilitation course.

Source: Anna Riley and Lorraine King. “Husband, 71, leaves wife of 40 years, 87, in ‘pool of blood’ after bingo hall bust up”. Mirror. February 25, 2020.

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