A woman who made a suicide pact with her husband will not be jailed after pleading guilty to manslaughter.

Ann Pollen, 47, of Hawthorn Road in Edmonton made a pact with her husband, Leonard, 58, to kill themselves after he was accused of historical sexual assault.

Mrs Pollen pleaded guilty yesterday at the Old Bailey and today, she was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment suspended for two years.

Concerns had been raised by family members following a will that was left to Mr Pollen’s brother.

The couple attempted to kill themselves two days after Mr Pollen was arrested on suspicion of rape. He was released on bail the next day.

On September 3, police and London Ambulance services attended the home address to find the couple in their bedroom.

Mr Pollen was found dead at the scene and Mrs Pollen had slashed wrists.

The pair had taken tablets, drunk alcohol and then used a knife to cut each other's wrists. They went to sleep, thinking they would not wake up.

Mr Pollen didn’t wake but when Mrs Pollen awoke to discover her husband had died, she continued to slash her wrists and take painkillers.