Vicar jailed for attacking wife

A Church of England vicar accused of trying to kill his wife in an apparently motiveless hammer attack was yesterday jailed for five years.

The Rev Michael Golightly, 54, of Durham City, was acquitted of attempted murder by a jury at Newcastle Crown Court but convicted of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

The court was told that Enid Golightly, 55, almost died after being struck a single blow with a 11/2lb hammer while she was asleep in bed. The blow was of such force that fragments of bone were pushed 30mm into her brain. Golightly denied responsibility and his counsel claimed an undetected intruder could launched the attack.