A woman whose husband was jailed after threatening to kill her has spoken of her ordeal.

Christine Houchen today described how her own life - and that of her children - has been destroyed.

But she said that although she would never take him back, she would always love him.

Gary Houchen, 41, was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court last week to two years and four months in prison.

He had pleaded guilty to causing bodily harm, making threats to kill and illegally possessing an air pistol.

It followed an incident in which he hit his wife and told her he was going to "kill her slowly".

The court heard that before marrying Christine he had served 11 years of a life sentence for the murder of a previous partner.

Christine, from the Beechcliffe area of Keighley, revealed how she had considered ending her own life after her traumatic experiences but needed to be strong for the children's sake.

She said: "My family and friends have really only just found out what has happened but they have all been very supportive. I loved that man but if he wanted that kind of life, then why did he not just say so? Even though I loved him I would have let him go."

She has had no communication with her husband - although he has written to his son - since his imprisonment.

"I thought we were going to be forever but he has destroyed my life and the lives of my children," she said. "This is the price I have paid for loving him."

The family home is now up for sale because she cannot afford to live there.

She added: "I will get through this. I have to be strong. But I will never be able to forget the words he said to me. I know I will always love him but I will never forgive him."

The couple met at college in Derby 11 years ago.

"I knew he was from the prison but I did not know he was a prisoner," said Christine. "I got to know him as a person. He was so caring and loving. The more I got to know him, the more he opened up. That's when I found out about his past."

The pair got on so well that they married shortly after his release on licence in January 1989.

She gave up her family and friends in Derby and the pair settled in Keighley - close to her husband's family - with Christine's three children from a previous marriage.

Their relationship blossomed and they had a son, now eight. Everyone commented on how happy they were together.

But, she said, things started to go sour last April when her husband joined a local motorcycle club.

On Bonfire Night last year, her husband left home for the first time. She said he had become obsessed with the motorcycle club.

Christine took him back but he left again a short time later.

Christine then found out that there was another woman involved. Her husband had also started to make threats against her.

She said that on one occasion he pinned her against a car and threatened her.

Following the latest incident he was arrested by police at the family home.

She is angry she was not told her husband had gone to court and been jailed.

"The first I heard was when I read it in the paper."

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