Suspended term for curry poisoner

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/manchester/8454960.stm

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A man from Manchester who tried to poison his neighbours by lacing a curry with slug pellets has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Gareth Stewart, 37, of Alexandra Road, Denton, had earlier admitted attempting to administer a poison with intent against two women on 22 September.

A judge at Minshull Street Crown Court passed a sentence of six months in prison, suspended for 15 months.

Stewart denied making threats to kill. Those charges will lie on his file.

Stewart told one of the women he was going away and offered her curry which he said needed eating, police said.

He has known the victims for several years and for no apparent reason has decided to try and inflict the misery he felt in his own life on them Det Con Graham Masheter

The women, Ann Marie Walton and Beverley Sales, noticed it smelt strange and had small blue and green pellets mixed into it.

They called the police, who found several slug pellets in the curry.

Stewart told officers he wanted the women to feel as bad as he did following the death of his partner, police said. He said he intended to cause them sickness and diarrhoea.

Det Con Graham Masheter, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "What Stewart did was premeditated and totally shocking.

"He has known the victims for several years and for no apparent reason has decided to try and inflict the misery he felt in his own life on them.

"Had either woman eaten the curry they would have become quite ill. Thankfully they noticed and contacted police."