Jail term for man who tried to drown wife in the bath

A HUSBAND who tried to drown his wife in the bath has been jailed for 27 months.

William McQueen grabbed Catherine Lister by the legs, forcing her head under the water. He held her in that position while she struggled to breathe.

Passing sentence at Livingston Sheriff Court, Sheriff Gerald Warner said it was one of the worst assaults he had dealt with. McQueen, 41, formerly known as William Lister, appeared for sentence yesterday. He pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to the attack and also admitted using martial arts techniques to put Ms Lister in a headlock.

McQueen also pleaded guilty to injuring his son Steven Lister, then aged 12 or 13, by striking him on the body with martial arts weapons. The offences were committed between December 2002 and December 2003.

Duncan Hughes, defending, said McQueen now lived in Yorkshire and was in a new relationship.