OAP back with wife after poisoning case is dropped

He was questioned twice on suspicion of administering a noxious substance under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 – an offence which can carry a maximum five years in jail upon conviction.

Now, after a three-month ordeal during which the retired British Aerospace aircraft engineer was on bail and temporarily barred from contacting his wife of 60 years, the case against Mr Crompton has been dropped.

However, the pensioner, who has lost weight and struggled to sleep, said: “This whole sorry business has been hanging over me for more than three months and I think the way it has been dealt with is absolutely disgusting.

“I’ve had a hell of a time and been treated as if I was like some kind of hardened drug dealer. I’ve been missing my wife greatly because before of all this.

“I used to be allowed see her every day but after my arrest I was told not to contact her at all. I was allowed to visit her later but only under supervision with someone watching over us.

“They said all accusations had been dropped. Why couldn’t that have happened after two weeks? Instead it’s been an absolutely horrendous three months.”

The incident occurred last April after Mrs Crompton, a retired factory machinist, moved into the care home after a number of falls at home. She has dementia, heart problems and chronic arthritis, for which her doctor had prescribed codeine and is unlikely to return home.

Mr Crompton has been his wife’s only carer for two years when she became seriously ill.

He said the patches had been prescribed by a doctor and said care home staff did not tell him the pain relief patches were banned – just that his wife’s codeine prescription was not allowed on the premises.

But officers from the Greater Manchester Police Public Protection Investigation Unit started an investigation and a “multi-agency strategy meeting” was held.

At the time, senior detectives said it was a “potentially serious offence in which a vulnerable elderly woman with significant health issues could have come to serious harm.”

But Mr Crompton, who is considering filing a report to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, said: “I’ve never committed a crime in my 83 years and for this to happen is mind-boggling.

“For the police to say I’ve tried to harm my wife is unbelievable.

“She had been complained of arthritis in her arm and I said I had a pain patch in my pocket so I put it on her arm. I used to look after her 24 hours a day so I know what she can and can’t have.

“I have never been in a cell before. I’ve only seen stuff like that on TV. A man of 83 being treated like that isn’t right.

“I have been my wife’s carer for 15 years and would never harm a hair on her head.

“I believe in police doing their duties and I’ve always had faith in the police. But this has made me ask myself questions about them. I don’t think anybody believes what I did was criminal.”

Police confirmed Mr Crompton was interviewed twice and a file of evidence was sent to the CPS who concluded there was insufficient evidence.

Det Supt Joanne Rawlinson, of the Public Protection Division, said: “This was a potentially serious incident in which a vulnerable elderly woman with significant health issues could have come to serious harm and, as such, people would expect the police to always conduct a thorough investigation.”

A spokesman for Allendale Care Home said: “We strictly follow the guidelines with regard patient care and protection to ensure they receive the highest standard of care.”

OAP back with wife after poisoning case is dropped