Mother who stabbed husband in drunken row is spared jail

Tracey and Jason Fellows had both been drinking heavily when violence flared, a judge heard.

When the 46-year-old saw her husband coming at her clutching a vodka bottle she grabbed a knife and plunged it into his arm, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told. One of her children heard the commotion and called 999.

Mr Nicholas Smith, prosecuting, said: "They found blood smeared on the wall and when they went upstairs, found the husband with a stab wound.

"The man told them the defendant had picked up a knife and stabbed him in the arm. He was taken to hospital where the wound was stitched."

Mr Smith explained: "The background to this is clearly alcohol. They were both heavily intoxicated when the officers arrived.

"She had been at the receiving end when he came at her in an aggressive manner. She scratched him with her nails and was holding a knife. Fearing for her safety, she stabbed him."

The husband had not been prepared to support the prosecution in bringing the case to the court, it was said.

Mr Simon Hanns, defending, said the couple had been arguing 'throughout the day' before the violence started in the early hours of May 30 last year.

He commented: "The children did not need to see this unedifying spectacle from their parents but it was a single blow and there is some evidence of remorse."

Hospital canteen worker Fellows, from Bankwell Street, Brierley Hill, who had a previous conviction for assaulting a police officer, admitted wounding.

Recorder Stephen Thomas told her: "The use of a knife in whatever circumstances is usually followed by immediate imprisonment.

"During an argument you stabbed your husband in response to an action by him when he had a bottle in his hand.

"That has been accepted by the prosecution but had that not been the case you would have been going to jail immediately."

Fellows was given a 12-month prison term suspended for 18 months with 100 hours unpaid work and was ordered to pay £500 costs.