Almost always there are two sides to every story. Take the case today of Sophie Mardon.

When she first appeared in court it seemed she was entirely in the wrong.

She was a woman who had apparently plotted to poison her husband and his father.

A woman who had cooked a lunch, made Angel Delight for dessert and laced it with antifreeze.

It was wholly premeditated and could have resulted in the death of both her husband and his father.

On the face of it an awful, callous thing to do. But now we have heard her story. And it puts an entirely different complexion on these events.

For here was a woman forced to go out stripping to make money while her husband stayed at home.

A woman who felt humiliated, exploited and mentally abused.

A woman who had been pushed to the very limits of her tolerance.

Of course, what she did was wrong and she has been sent to prison for it.

Her husband and his father have been presented as the victims in this case. But Mrs Mardon was just as much a victim.

She has been given a harsh sentence for a single act of wickedness. But her husband has escaped punishment for the way he treated her.

Mrs Mardon was trapped in a miserable marriage, subservient to a cynical husband, and she could see only one way out.

Hopefully she will be given some help during her time in prison – and some understanding.

That is the very least she deserves.