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A man who left his wife to die in squalid conditions after neglecting her has been jailed for eight years.

Richard Wallach, 67, failed to look after his wife, Valerie, 61, to the point that emergency services found her covered in maggots and flies.

He was found guilty on September 19 of manslaughter by killing Valerie through gross negligence after she was found to be severely ill and left to fester in an armchair in the living room of their home on Gwendoline Street, Toxteth.

Medical professionals said Valerie was found in the "worst condition of a living human they had seen".

Today Wallach was sentenced to eight years at Liverpool Crown Court. It is understood he is expected to serve half of his sentence on licence.

Dressed in a checked jumper and wearing headphones to assist his hearing, Wallach stared forward as his sentence was read aloud to him.

(Image: Liverpool Echo)

Sentencing, Judge Neil Flewitt QC said: “You are a thoroughly selfish man, and in this instance your selfishness led to the death of your wife.”

Liverpool Crown Court had previously heard how Valerie had been sitting in a urine and faeces soiled chair for months, and was so ill when paramedics found her she could no longer speak.

Her cause of death was found ultimately breast cancer and multi-organ failure.

Wallach failed to look after Valerie while she was ill and was found to have neglected her, before she was eventually admitted into hospital where she died in August, 2017.

The court heard that Mrs Wallach died just 19 days after being taken into the Royal Liverpool Hospital and diagnosed with advanced breast cancer, organ failure and pressurised sores.

(Image: merpol)

But hospital staff said her husband was more concerned with his own constipation when he was told that his wife would die.

Vital care was finally given to Valerie after Wallach arrived to Elms Medical Centre to say his wife had collapsed in a chair at their home, on August 24.

He said she was still responsive, but was babbling. He said he couldn’t call an ambulance as he didn’t have a telephone.

The doctor thought it was more likely that she had been like that for weeks if not months.

She was in a critical condition and staff were shocked at the poor state of both her health and her condition.

She was covered in faeces and there were maggots in the folds of her skin.

Shocked neighbours of the couple said they had "no idea" Valerie was left to die in such sad circumstances.

One neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: "They kept themselves to themselves, really. We didn't see anybody, I didn't even know it was them until I read about it on the ECHO.

"They just seemed like nice people, you would not think something like that would have happened.

"You can't say anything nasty about him, you can't say nothing like that. He was just a nice fella you'd see."

The 84-year-old added: "We're just shocked. If that had happened to anybody, you'd be shocked, but if it's someone that lives on your street and you've known them, you just can't explain it."

Wallach was told Valerie was likely to die soon and according to hospital staff, he said: "Thanks for letting me know but who is going to sort out my problem? I’ve been constipated for weeks”.

She died on September 12, 2017. An autopsy revealed the cause of death as multi-organ failure, breast cancer and infected pressure ulcers.

Horrific images from the couple's home showed the grim conditions Valerie deteriorated in.

Rubbish and unopened mail littered the hallway that led into the living room where Mrs Wallach was left to die in her armchair.

Piles of papers, Pot Noodle packaging and filled bin bags cover every surface surrounding the brown leather Chesterfield which was reportedly soiled with Mrs Wallach's faeces.

A number of framed photographs can also be seen sitting on shelves but the images are barely visible through the grime in the dark room.

The paramedics were shocked by what they saw when they arrived at the house. It was filthy and Mrs Wallach was in a chair, pale, struggling for breath, vacant and her skin was inflamed and covered in flies.

The paramedics and two firefighters had to wear protective clothing to move her.

Prosecutor Richard Pratt said: "The collective experience of the fire officers spanned well over 30 years - they had never seen a living human being in such a poor condition."

Wallach claimed he would see her several times a day and would give her sandwiches and takeaway meals such as fish and chips, which she would feed herself, and give her Coca Cola to drink.

He told detectives, “We were together for 25 years and I loved the bones of her.”

In court, his QC David McLachlan asked if he was responsible for his wife’s death he replied, “I take offence at that. I am not guilty for the death of my wife, no way.”

Helplines and support networks If you have been affected by any of the issues discussed in this article or need to talk someone, the NHS Choices website lists the following helplines and support networks: Samaritans operates a 24-hour service on available every day of the year by calling 116 123, and an email service is available at jo@samaritans.org. Childline , on 0800 1111, runs a helpline for children and young people in the UK. Calls are free and the number do not show up in the phone bill. PAPYRUS , 0800 068 4141, is an organisation supporting teenagers and young adults who are feeling suicidal. Depression Alliance is a charity for people with depression. It does not have a helpline, but offers resources and links to other relevant information. Students Against Depression is a website for students who are depressed, have a low mood or are having suicidal thoughts. Bullying UK is a website for both children and adults affected by bullying.

Wallach, who has been found by a psychiatrist to be suffering from “hoarding” disorder, was also shown photographs of his wife in hospital and admitted the injuries were “very bad. I must have had a mental lapse or something. I do not recall those injuries at all.”

He said, “I looked after her to the best of my ability."

Wallach had pleaded not guilty to the charge.