Row over smoking led angry Abbey Hulton woman to knife boyfriend

A WOMAN who stabbed her boyfriend in the leg and hit him over the head with an ashtray has escaped an immediate jail sentence.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard how Sally Bowman attacked Mark Brassington in the bedroom after an argument spilled over into violence.

The 50-year-old had grabbed a kitchen knife and plunged it into the quilt on the bed, only realising seconds later that she had wounded her partner.

Distraught Bowman then contacted police and confessed to the crime, telling officers: "I should have stabbed myself, not him."

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She also claimed she had been repeatedly hit by Mr Brassington since the start of their relationship six years earlier.

When police arrived at the flat at Forest Court, in Union Street, Hanley, Mr Brassington had left the scene.

He was spotted an hour later in Town Road, with blood on his head and walking with a slight limp.

Paul Farrow, prosecuting, told the court: "He had a cut on his leg and a small puncture, an inch long, to his calf. He said he had fallen on some glass."

Mr Brassington was taken to hospital, but refused to make a complaint about the assault.

Bowman, of Greasley Road, Abbey Hulton, pleaded guilty to an offence of wounding.

She was sentenced yesterday to 12 months in prison, although the sentence was suspended for 18 months.

The defendant was also made the subject of a supervision order so she could 'access support from agencies'.

Mr Farrow said the attack had happened on June 30 this year after the couple had argued in the morning. Bowman returned to the flat later that day and became cross when she found Mr Brassington smoking in the bedroom.

Mr Farrow said: "She took hold of the glass ashtray from the bedroom table, picked it up and swung her arm.

"She caught him on the back of the head. On leaving the room, she heard the victim say 'ouch'. He continued to argue with her.

"She went into the kitchen, picked up a large knife, and went back into the bedroom.

"She said she'd intended to threaten him, not to assault.

"The defendant walked close to the bed and stabbed the quilt. She went to stab again, but saw the victim move his leg. She saw there was blood and was in shock."

Joanne Wallbanks, mitigating, conceded Bowman had some "anger management" issues.

She said the defendant was still in an 'ongoing relationship' with Mr Brassington.

Sentencing her, Judge Granville Styler described the assault as a 'dangerous and reckless act'.