A man labeled as “wicked” has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for attempting to kill his wife by setting her house on fire. Nicholas Martin, aged 63, meticulously followed his wife, Emma, before arriving at her residence in the dead of night. He proceeded to pour gasoline through her letterbox and ignite it, forcing Ms. Martin to escape from her bedroom window after being trapped on the first floor. This incident, which occurred in Eccles on October 22 last year, resulted in Ms. Martin sustaining severe injuries, including broken ankles and a back bone.
Martin, a former head of estates at Salford Royal Hospital and the Manchester Royal Infirmary, was apprehended the following day in the Lake District. He was convicted of attempted murder at Minshull Street Crown Court and handed a 30-year prison sentence. Despite his defense counsel mentioning the possibility of Martin passing away in prison due to his age and sentence length, the judge condemned the attack as wicked, planned, and premeditated.
Ms. Martin, who still relies on crutches for mobility, underwent a challenging recovery process after the incident, which also claimed the life of her cat. The couple’s tumultuous relationship had previously led to a violent episode in Scotland in August 2021, where Martin physically assaulted Ms. Martin, resulting in bruises. Although the couple reconciled after the incident, Ms. Martin eventually reported the abuse to the authorities due to recurring flashbacks.
In the early hours of October 21 last year, Martin returned to Ms. Martin’s residence, poured gasoline through the letterbox, and set the property ablaze. Despite her efforts to rescue her distressed cat amidst the smoke, she was forced to flee upstairs and jump from a first-floor window to escape the fire, sustaining serious injuries in the process. Martin was later apprehended at a hotel in Windermere, where a petrol can containing fuel was discovered in his possession.
During the trial, Martin admitted to starting the fire but denied any intent to kill his wife. However, he was found guilty of assault causing actual bodily harm and attempted murder. Ms. Martin, in an emotional statement to the court, detailed the destructive impact of Martin’s actions on her life and her family, expressing gratitude for their support during her recovery.
Martin, residing in Leicester, was informed that he would serve at least two-thirds of his sentence in prison, with an indefinite restraining order imposed. Detective Constable Zoe Bellis of Salford CID commended the victim for her bravery in reporting the incident and emphasized the importance of seeking help for domestic abuse victims, reassuring them of the support and action the authorities would provide.
