A MAN has been convicted of violently assaulting his wife with a meat cleaver on Christmas Eve.

Jonathan Eldridge called the ambulance service to his home address on West Street, Ryde at around 10.20pm on December 24, 2021.

The 42-year-old told call handlers that he had struck his wife in the head with a meat cleaver, having returned to the house through the back door after being out drinking.

Police officers and paramedics deployed to the address where they found the victim unresponsive on the sofa, having suffered significant blood loss.

During a trial at Winchester Crown Court, a jury were told how Eldridge continued to ask, ‘why did I do this?’ following his arrest.

He was subsequently arrested on suspicion of attempted murder then charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Appearing at Isle of Wight Crown Court on March 3 this year, he entered a plea to causing grievous bodily harm without intent, but this was rejected and the case proceeded to trial in Winchester on Monday.

Today (Wednesday) the jury found Eldridge guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and he was remanded in custody to be sentenced at the same court on September 1.