West Bromwich mother was stabbed when daughter 'snapped'

Gillian Manders had been caring for her 91-year-old mother Edna for a number of years at their home in Cardigan Close, Hateley Heath.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how Manders immediately called emergency services to tell them what she had done after the incident on March 2. She admitted a charge of wounding in a case described by Judge Mark Eades as 'a tragedy'.

Mr Paul Spratt, prosecuting, said the pensioner was left with a deflated lung and she required four stitches. He said: "The victim in this case is the mother of the defendant.

"Gillian Manders had live at the house for most, if not all, of her life.

"For a considerable time she had taken care of her mother – a role she had taken after she became unemployed in 2009. On the day in question the defendant called the police and confessed she had used a knife and stabbed out at her mother. The police attended with an ambulance and Edna Manders had a cut of two to three centimetres in diameter to the left side of her chest."

Mr Spratt said Manders admitted her guilt at the scene and at the police station.

Her mother was moved to a nursing home where she recovered. Miss Kate Thomas, defending, said: "This isn't a case where someone didn't have a supportive family around. This is an issue of isolation and dealing with the care of her mother.

"What Miss Manders needs is a reason to get up in the morning.

"She is a woman who needs employment. She is an educated person who has worked hard all her life and simply snapped."

Judge Eades sentenced Manders to an 18-month supervision order and told her she must carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.