Black Country man jailed for wounding partner

Karl Johnson had been involved in a 'rocky, on off' relationship for 15 years when near tragedy struck, a judge heard.

The 36-year-old defendant was fed up after his partner went on a two week holiday in Thailand with their two children and her mother, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

He started verbally abusing her when she came back, triggering a drink-fuelled argument between them on November 24, five days after her return, it was said.

They were sitting next to each other on the sofa when he suddenly said: 'I have had enough of this,' revealed Mr Dean Easthope, prosecuting.

Johnson went into the kitchen, slamming the door on the way. He claimed to have gone to make a sandwich but emerged clutching the bread knife which he waved in front of his partner, stabbing her in the left side of her chest by the shoulder, continued the prosecutor.

He rushed round to the home of a neighbour and asked to use the phone to call for an emergency call. When asked why he replied that he had just stabbed his partner.

Her memory of the incident was clouded by drink and she told police she only remembered the defendant trying to kiss her and repeating 'I'm sorry.'

He left the house before police arrived but officers quickly found him at a nearby pub. He admitted the offence occured while he was 'waving' the knife around in front of the victim.

She was taken to Birmingham's QE Hospital where the wound required three stitches and is now fully healed.

Mr John Evans, defending, stressed: "This was not premeditated. There had been arguments in the past that resulted in neighbours calling the police but none of those led to a prosecution. He has a problem with drink but is taking steps to ensure this sort of thing does not happen again."

The defendant's partner did not want a restraining order and hoped to rekindle the relationship on his release from prison, the court was told.

Johnson, from Adams Close, Tipton, pleaded guilty to wounding and was jailed by Recorder Peter Ievins who told him: "I appreciate you did not intend to hurt her but you could have killed the woman by waving a knife around her neck. I am satisfied there had been a history of domestic violence and bullying."