Valerie Dowding, 76, spent a decade mentally abusing her husband and retired academic, Dennis, a court heard.
In one particularly cruel act Mrs Dowding tormented her 80-year-old husband - who claimed he was a victim of 'gaslighting' - by deliberately destroying his beloved books.
Dennis was hospitalised after he was struck over the head with his walking stick following a row over the family dog.
In handing her a suspended prison sentence, Judge Robert Pawson compared 'spiteful' Mrs Dowding's behaviour to that of a bully.
Pictured is Valerie Dowding, 76, who tormented her elderly husband, retired Bournemouth law professor Dennis, for a decade