A man who walked free from court after helping his disabled wife commit suicide has spoken of his relief.

David March, 58, the chairman of the Croydon and Sutton MS Therapy Centre, assisted his wife Gillian to take her own life at their home after she attempted suicide for the third time.

Mr March told the Croydon Guardian: "I am very relieved at the verdict after what has been a very difficult year. Without the help and support of my family and friends it would have been a nightmare."

Wheelchair-bound Mrs March suffered from multiple sclerosis (MS) for more than 20 years. She took an overdose of Valium, put a plastic bag over her head, tied it with strings and waited to die on September 19 last year.

Mr March returned to the family home in Caterham to discover his dying wife still alive.

The landscape gardener tightened the string around her neck and sat with her for 30 minutes, before calling for an ambulance.

He was arrested on suspicion of murder but the prosecution added a count of aiding and abetting a suicide, to which Mr March pleaded guilty in September.

The couple, who have no children, married in 1979 and Mrs March was diagnosed with MS in 1984.

The court heard Mrs March, 59, wanted to die as an act of love for her husband - so he could find a new partner before he was too old.

In her diary she wrote: "You know my feelings of wanting to opt out. It is the only way I can cope, having an escape route if things get too bad."

At the Old Bailey last Thursday Mr March was given a nine month sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to perform 50 hours of unpaid community service, which will be carried out at the Croydon MS Therapy centre in Coulsdon.

The manager of the centre defended him as "the epitome of a good man" and said he had been absolutely devoted to Gill.

Ann Dedman added: "Dave was totally committed to making Gill's life as enjoyable as possible despite her disabilities caused by Multiple Sclerosis.

"They were a devoted couple and in my opinion they had a fantastic relationship, they laughed a lot about the awkward situations connected with MS and dealt with everything in a very practical way.

"Dave has been an integral part of the Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre, which supports people with MS in the community."

Deborah Annetts, chief executive of Dignity in Dying, said: "This terribly sad case shows once again how the law is failing terminally ill people and their loved ones."