Husband 'lost it' and stabbed wife of 20 years to death after he found out about her affair

A husband 'lost it' and stabbed his wife of almost 20 years to death in the kitchen a day after he found out about her affair with a joiner.

Stuart Gallear, 51, told police he attacked Mandy Gallear, 42, with a kitchen knife at the marital home in Hindley, near Wigan, on October 6 last year.

Police arrived at the address within 10 minutes of the defendant ringing for an ambulance and found Mandy lying motionless on the kitchen floor with three deep wounds to her chest.


Former warehouse manager Gallear has pleaded guilty to her manslaughter but denies murder.

The couple, who were married in 1998, emigrated to Canada in 2009 with their two young daughters but the move was not a success and they flew back to the UK just three months later.

Manchester Crown Court heard that Gallear became depressed on their return as he drank to excess and neglected his wife and daughters.

Alaric Bassano, prosecuting, said Mrs Gallear told others about her dissatisfaction with her husband and how he mistreated her.In 2014, Gallear made a pass at his wife's sister when he tried to kiss her, said Mr Bassano.

Then in 2015, Mrs Gallear became romantically involved with Mark Prescott, he continued.

Mr Bassano said:

"She informed the defendant of the fact of this relationship - though, mindful that the defendant knew Prescott, did not tell him of Prescott's identity.Mandy Gallear fell in love with Mark Prescott and in early 2016 confided in a work colleague that she wanted to leave the defendant but felt unable to do so because of her children.

She thus continued to live under the same roof as the defendant, but maintained her relationship with Mark Prescott until the time of her death."

Matters came to a head in early October last year, said the prosecutor, when Mr Prescott's partner found about the affair.

On October 5 Mr Prescott's stepson went to the Gallear family home in Makinson Avenue and informed the defendant of the affair.

Mr Bassano said:

 "This was the first time that the defendant learned of the identity of the man with whom Mandy had been romantically involved.
"Mandy confirmed this to the defendant and told him that she wanted a separation.
"She also told the defendant that she was in love with Prescott."

Gallear later sent text messages to Mr Prescott - one of which said "big mistake" and the other "just found out you f***** my wife", the court heard.

On the morning of October 6 Mrs Gallear told work colleagues at Chorley-based property developers Heaton Estates she was getting divorced and was planning to view a house for rent with Mr Prescott that day.

Mr Bassano said throughout that day Gallear's distress, anger and resentment manifested itself to a number of people.

He phoned Mr Prescott and threatened to kill him, said the prosecutor, before he texted him:

"I made a stupid pass at her sister and regret it ever since and was trying to rebuild until you got involved".

Gallear told his next-door neighbour that his wife had "ruined my life" and later visited the Hindley Arms pub at lunch where he informed a customer "I've just found out my wife has been having an affair with my mate", the jury was told.

When interviewed by detectives, Gallear later told police he walked home at 3.30pm and talked "amicably" with his wife in their kitchen.

Gallear said his wife then said:

 "Anyway, it's sorted now. We are separating. I love him more than you" and his memory of what happened next was "blurred"

Mr Bassano told the jury:

"He recalled lunging at Mandy, grabbing her by the throat, grabbing the knife from the drawer, pushing her back towards the sink and stabbing her two or three times with the knife."

Gallear said his wife then protested "what are you doing? I still love you" and he then "just snapped out of it", put the knife aside and rang emergency services at 3.49pm, the court heard.

In the 999 call played to the jury Gallear tells the operator:

"I have just stabbed my wife. We have had a break-up and I have just lost it... I just lost it."

Gallear then performed chest compressions on his wife and attempted to stem the bleeding as he twice told the operator to get to the scene as quick as possible.

Mr Bassano said:

"The defendant claims that he stabbed his wife through a loss of self-control.
"Even if that is true, the Crown rejects any suggestion that the defendant's killing of his wife was anything other than an act of murder."

 The UK Mirror