A grieving pensioner suffered what is known as 'broken heart syndrome' after her husband of more than 50 years grabbed her by the throat and threatened her with a knife.

In what was described as a "deeply unpleasant" episode of domestic abuse just three days after Christmas, Robert Collins lashed out at his spouse following a verbal row at their then-home in Whitstable.

The violence left the woman, aged 78 at the time, with a bruised leg and "all the hallmarks of a heart attack" which, once at hospital, was diagnosed as takotsubo cardiomyopathy - a condition where the heart muscle changes shape and suddenly weakens.

Although she made a full recovery, the incident led to the end of their marriage, the selling of the matrimonial home, and Collins, now 79, in the dock at Canterbury Crown Court.

At his sentencing hearing on Thursday (November 21), prosecutor Caroline Knight said that just six weeks prior to the altercation, the couple's daughter had tragically died from cancer.

Collins was described as being "physically much bigger and stronger" than his partner, to whom he had been married for 51 years, and it was during an argument on December 28, 2021, that he reacted violently.

"He pushed her in the living room into a fireplace and then into the hallway, at some point causing bruising to her leg," explained Ms Knight.

‘Although she had not had a heart attack she was found to have broken heart syndrome,’

"The defendant then took a knife from the kitchen and held it by her throat as he held her by the throat up against the wall.

"He brandished it, saying he would kill her if she didn't leave. He then released her and went into the garden where he told their son 'Come and get your mother or I'm going to kill her'."

Police arrived and Collins was said to have made an "immediate confession".

"He told police he got hold of her by the throat. He said 'I just lost it and I am sorry for grabbing hold of her. That's all I can say.'," added Ms Knight.

"His wife was experiencing chest pains and shortness of breath - all the hallmarks of a heart attack - and she was taken to hospital.

"Although she had not had a heart attack she was found to have broken heart syndrome - takotsubo cardiomyopathy."

The court heard that a doctor later concluded the condition was triggered by the stress from the assault coupled with their recent family bereavement.

Although Collins' wife made a complete recovery, "she made it clear that she certainly didn't want him back in the house", said Ms Knight, and they eventually divorced.

Now living with his son in Symonds Road, in Cliffe, near Rochester, the retired OAP was said to have had no contact with his now ex-wife for more than two years.

He later pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm and the case was committed to the crown court for sentence.

‘This was to some extent a prolonged assault....It had great potential to become very grave,’

However, no explanation for the lengthy delay in charging him or the case reaching conclusion was given, other than the need to obtain medical reports as to the "unusual and more tricky" causation of the 'injury' suffered.

Alexa Le Moine, defending, said the attack itself had been "spontaneous, impulsive and relatively short-lived".

"It has taken place at a time of extremely heightened emotion for this family when they suffered the very bad bereavement of a daughter," she told the court.

"Not only was there an immediate confession to police but also an expression of remorse which is sincerely echoed to the court today.

"His actions brought an end to a marriage of more than 50 years and the family home was sold."

Collins was also said to suffer from a number of health problems, including arthritis and diabetes. He has also had bowel cancer and is awaiting a hernia operation.

Imposing a two-year jail term suspended for two years, Judge Mark Weekes told the septuagenarian that the "rather unpleasant experience" for his wife of being pushed and left with bruising was made "all the more so" when she was threatened at knifepoint.

Having referred to the potential consequence of broken heart syndrome being death, he added: "This was a deeply unpleasant episode of domestic abuse, and there is evidence within the papers that this was not isolated.

"I sentence you for what you have pleaded guilty to and have no regard to any other matters.

"This was to some extent a prolonged assault....It had great potential to become very grave."

Explaining his reasons for not sending Collins to prison, Judge Weekes said there was significant mitigation in the delay - something he described as "a matter of profound regret" - as well as a "sufficient" prospect of rehabilitation.

But in ordering him to complete 45 rehabilitation activity requirements, he told Collins it was "to drive home to you the error of your ways and to ensure that going forwards, even though you are far from being a young man, there are better ways to behave".

The judge then added: "Let this be the last time you are before the courts. Make sure you stay out of trouble, all trouble."

Collins was also handed a two-year restraining order banning him from any contact with his former spouse.