A PENSIONER scared of his abusive wife had set a “booby trap” using a vacuum attached to string, which would clatter if she tried to enter his bedroom, a judge said today when he was jailed for 38 months for killing her on Christmas Day.

The judge at Caernarfon crown court said the stabbed wife had been “dominant” and for all her good qualities could be “controlling and manipulative.” They had been a “family in crisis,” said the couple’s daughter Angela Bryan, a former police officer for 30 years, who lived next door.

Thomas Bryan, 76, of Francis Avenue at the seaside village of Fairbourne in south Gwynedd, had been convicted by a jury of the manslaughter of his wife of 53 years Vivienne Bryan, aged 74, but cleared of her murder at their home.

Mrs Justice Jefford said they both drank and it led to rows. In 2018 the couple moved from Staffordshire to the sleepy village in Wales and the “bitter” wife described it as like living in an open coffin. Their relationship worsened.

The judge said one night the defendant had been woken in his bed by his wife prodding him with a knife. He refused to go to hospital for treatment or call the police, to protect her. But he’d set up the booby trap.

Unhappy Mrs Bryan had later taken a massive overdose of painkillers but continued to make “digs” at her husband and warned she would make his life “hell.”

On the day of the tragedy the parents had been to their daughter’s for lunch and Bryan had sharpened a kitchen knife. But as he enjoyed lunch and drank wine, his wife’s face fell and their daughter feared the situation would “kick off” when they returned home.

The victim was said to have hurled insults at her husband. “I have no doubt something happened at your home that day which caused you to lose control,” the judge added to Bryan, who didn’t give evidence in his trial. He’d never reacted violently to an argument before, despite years of put downs and controlling behaviour.

Mrs Justice Jefford said he may have felt threatened by his wife. There had been a “very high degree of provocation” during the marriage.

The judge said the couple’s daughter had visited Bryan in jail and spoke to him by phone every day. “She forgives you but she believes you will never forgive yourself,” the judge declared. “You have lost your wife and will have to live with the guilt.”

Prison would also have a significantly greater impact on the pensioner than a younger man.

Ian Unsworth QC, defending, said :”Mr Bryan wishes to say he’s sorry and is deeply remorseful for what has happened. He will never forgive himself.”

Opening the case, prosecuting QC Gordon Cole said the retired engineer and his wife went to their daughter’s home next door for Christmas dinner but there was “tension” between the couple.

The parents returned home. But Mr Cole said just before 8pm Angela Bryan had called police after her father arrived at her home.

“He said that his wife had come towards him with a knife. The defendant said he had stabbed her,” Mr Cole said. He told his daughter :”Go, look.”

Angela Bryan found her mother motionless on a lounge sofa and saw blood. She tried to revive her. A carving knife was recovered.

The defendant told police there was a row about his drinking and he went behind the sofa. His wife turned around and there was a struggle.

“During that altercation the defendant says he saw a knife on the sofa,” the prosecutor said. “The next thing he recalled was seeing a pool of blood on a cushion next to his wife’s shoulder. His wife was sitting there with her head tilted.

“We say the defendant was behind his wife when he inflicted the fatal blow.”

The judge told the defendant he was “privileged” to have a “remarkable” daughter who’d given evidence in the case and a victim’s statement. “She gave evidence as it was the last thing she could do to help you,” the judge remarked.