EX-PRISON GOVERNOR JAILED FOR WIFE ASSAULT
2001: A former prison governor who was incarcerated for repeated harassment of his wife carried out an attack on her on his first day of freedom.William Woodward made a phone call to his wife, May, from Bristol Prison when he was released.
A few hours later, she spotted him lurking outside their residence in the darkness.
Mrs.
Woodward activated a panic alarm, but Woodward pursued her along the street, tore off her blouse, and attempted to choke her.
Police arrived to find Woodward inside his wife's bedroom, and during a struggle, he threw a window handle at an officer, striking him in the groin.
Woodward had previously served nearly six months in jail for breaching a court order that prohibited him from contacting or visiting his wife at their former home on Newlands Drive, Lowton.
Bolton Crown Court was told that Woodward's life had unraveled following his retirement on medical grounds from his role as prison governor at Liverpool Prison.
Prosecutor Geoff Whelan stated that a day before his release in February, Mrs.
Woodward had a panic button installed at her house.
The 54-year-old defendant acknowledged that he was aware that visiting his wife would breach the restraining order.
He claimed he was an alcoholic and did not remember the events of that evening clearly.
When charged, he admitted guilt on all counts.
Judge Bruce Macmillan sentenced him to two years in prison; he showed no emotion during sentencing and pleaded guilty to assault and breaching the restraining order.
The court noted that Woodward was considered a man of good character until his retirement in September 1998, after which he served two periods of imprisonment for violating the restraining order.
Advocate Alaric Bassano suggested that Woodward's visit to his wife's home was prompted by an attempt to access funds from his account, which was found to be empty.
He added that Woodward did not plan to attack his wife but 'flipped' upon returning home, likely influenced by alcohol consumption at the time.
Judge Macmillan described the attack as a serious incident and emphasized that a substantial sentence was necessary due to the gravity of his actions.
