A WOMAN who carried out a frenzied attack on her partner with a 12-inch-long kitchen knife was spared jail by a judge.

Kathleen Chamberlain, 62, went for partner John Balgalvis with the knife during an altercation at his home in Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, on August 4 last year.

Chamberlain, of Wilverley Avenue, Bournemouth, was given a nine-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months at Bournemouth Crown Court.

Prosecutor Clifford Grier told the court that the couple, both alcoholics, started a relationship after meeting in a Bournemouth pub six months before the offence.

Mr Grier said that on the day of the offence Chamberlain got "drunk" at Mr Balgalvis' home, having been "dry" for 10 weeks.

During the evening the pair were both drinking cider although Mr Balgalvis told police he was not drunk.

Mr Balgalvis became concerned when the defendant, who had broken her pelvis on a previous occasion, lay on the bed and began screaming in pain.

But as he called for an ambulance, Chamberlain grabbed the telephone and destroyed it and advanced on him with the kitchen knife, said Mr Grier.

Mr Balgalvis managed to push his partner away, whereupon she came back at him, wounding his right hand and inflicting a deep puncture wound to the right side of his body, said Mr Grier.

Mr Balgalvis managed to get out of the flat and alert a neighbour, who called an ambulance, the court heard.

He was taken to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, where he received stitches for a 5cm laceration to his right wrist and a 1cm laceration to his upper abdomen.

When arrested, Chamberlain told police: "I stuck it in him because he called me an ugly cow."

She later pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding.

Defending, John Upton told the court that Chamberlain posed no risk to anyone but Mr Balgalvis.

She has also received optimistic reports from her probation officer who was "startled" by the improvements she had made in recent weeks.

Passing sentence, Judge John Beashel said: "You could so easily have killed your victim. This was a serious knifing."

He also ordered Chamberlain to submit to regular appointments at East Dorset Drug and Alcohol Advisory Service and a supervisory requirement for 12 months. She must submit to reviews of her progress and attend court next on April 13.