A woman who tried to tear off her husband's genitals has been jailed for three days.

Barbara Ann Hamilton, 52, of Sarnia pleaded guilty in Sarnia court to the Dec. 26, 2013 assault and the May 20 violation of a no-contact order.

The couple had been married for 30 years, but had recently been arguing regarding accusations of infidelity. Police had intervened.

There had been a series of physical confrontations between the couple, leading to the assault. During prior confrontations, and following the assault, a grandchild intervened to stop the incidents.

On Dec. 26, while her husband was on the toilet, Hamilton grabbed and pulled on his genitals while biting his face. The man told police it appeared to be an attempt to rip them off.

The man pushed Hamilton away and later struck her.

On May 20, while under a court order to stay away from her husband, Hamilton went to his home. She was knocking on the door and talking.

He called the police.

Violence cannot be tolerated, but Hamilton can hardly be faulted considering what she has been through, said defence lawyer James Guggisberg, noting the husband repeatedly demonstrated he was the authority figure in the marriage.

Her husband was a foot taller and 80 pounds heavier than Hamilton.

In 2013 Hamilton was convicted of assault causing bodily harm to her husband because she was angered by him having sex with another woman during his birthday party.

It was not a healthy relationship, said Justice Anne McFadyen.

There was a joint submission from Crown and defence lawyers for the three-day sentence Hamilton had served in pre-sentence custody.

It will be followed by 18 months probation when Hamilton must take anger-management and domestic-violence counselling while staying away from her husband.

Hamilton said she wants no further contact with him.

neil.bowen@sunmedia.ca