A Conservative councillor has admitted carrying out a serious attack on his wife during ’a moment of madness’.

Douglas Hellier Laing, aged 67, pleaded guilty to wounding his wife Susan with intent to cause grievous bodily harm when he appeared at Exeter Crown Court.

He was a member of Teignbridge Council’s ruling executive committee until his arrest in October. He was known as Hellier Laing during his political career.

Laing, of Clifford Street, Chudleigh, denied the more serious charge of attempted murder and this case is to be dropped by the prosecution.

Miss Rachel Drake, prosecuting, said: ‘The pleas are acceptable. We still need to provide a full transcript of the complainant’s statement because the full nuance of her account is important.

‘There is no medical evidence at the moment and that will be needed to assess the seriousness of the case. We will also try to obtain a victim personal statement.

‘There is also an application for a restraining order which will need to be amended to enable solicitors to deal with the divorce.’

Mr Martin Salloway, defending, said a jail sentence is inevitable. He said: ‘I have obtained a number of character testimonials. This was a moment of madness, as he described it to the police.’

Laing appeared by video link from Exeter Prison and was remanded in custody by Judge Geoffrey Mercer, QC.

He told him: ‘There is no issue of dangerousness in this case. This was essentially out of the blue.’