A WORDSLEY woman who carried out a drunken knife attack on her partner as their "violent" relationship broke down has been spared immediate jail.

Recorder David Crigman QC at Wolverhampton Crown Court told Lisa Cleaver: "This must have been a terrifying experience for him.

"It occurred at a time of high emotions when your relationship was disintegrating."

Cleaver got into an argument with Simon Ball after she had been drinking heavily and "when she drank she became violent," Bernard Linnemann, prosecuting, said.

He said the 29-year-old took a large kitchen knife and chased Mr Ball who managed to barricade himself into the room before calling the police.

Mr Ball was sitting with his back jammed against the door but Cleaver put her arm around the doorway and caught him with the knife causing a superficial cut to his head.

When police arrived on the scene they found Cleaver and it was apparent to the officers that she was drunk, said Mr Linnemann who added: "She used drink as a means to escape her difficulties.

"It is agreed she went after him with the knife because she had done it before. and she said that if she had managed to get round the door she would probably have stabbed him."

Mr Linnemann told the court that after the incident Mr Ball refused to make a statement to police officers and he had not co-operated in the prosecution.

Cleaver, of George Street, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and was given a ten-month jail term suspended for 18 months.

The van driver was further placed on Supervision for 18 months by the Recorder, who also ordered her to pay £500 towards the costs of the case.

Philip Brunt, defending, said that in the past Cleaver had complained of being strangled by Mr Ball - adding: "It had become a violent relationship."

He told the court Cleaver had never been in trouble before with the police and revealed that after the incident Mr Ball had "packed his belongings and he had gone".

Cleaver, he concluded, had now taken steps to reduce her drinking and stressed she would benefit from assistance from probation.