Mother-of-two Sarah Norquoy stabbed victim Raymond Sutherland in the thigh and below the knee as he sat in a chair, after she had armed herself with a knife from the kitchen of their home, Burnley Crown Court heard.

The hearing was told how the defendant had had a troubled background but had at last found a stable home with the victim, who had helped her kick drugs.

Norquoy (29), of Smith Street, Nelson, admitted wounding. She walked free from court after Judge Jonathan Gibson gave her 12 months in jail, suspended for two years, with two years supervision. She must pay £100 compensation.

Miss Sarah Statham (prosecuting) said Mr Sutherland was shocked, jumped up and pushed the defendant away after she attacked him. He was bleeding profusely, went away and eventually went into the living room again after Norquoy had calmed down.

Officers and paramedics were called but the victim refused to go to hospital. The defendant accepted she had stabbed her boyfriend but said it was because he had raped her. Both were arrested.

Miss Statham said she then admitted she had not been raped and Mr Sutherland was released from custody. He went for medical treatment the next day and was found to have two wounds on his right leg. He had stitches and a tetanus jab.

The defendant was questioned by officers and she owned up to the stabbing, but said she could not recall which knife she had used. Police found a selection of kitchen knives in the house.

Miss Statham said Norquoy claimed the victim had earlier put his hands around her neck. She said she had not knifed him then as she was biding her time and waiting for it to calm down. She then decided to stab him twice in the leg. The defendant had 20 previous convictions but none for violence.

Mr Tim Storrie (for Norquoy) said all parties had been drinking in volume with the sole ambition of becoming almost senseless.

Norquoy's upbringing had been without advantage and she had been repeatedly removed from her parents who "just drank." She was, to a great degree, damaged.

Mr Storrie said:"For her, at 28, for the first time ever, in the terrible and disrupted circumstances we hear about today, the only place she could ever really feel is home is that she shared with Raymond Sutherland."

Norquoy had been introduced to heroin by her ex-husband, who was sent back to prison again. Her children had been looked after by other family members. More recently, she had become methadone free and the great strength in that battle came from Mr Sutherland. She placed great value on the victim and the home she shared with him.

Mr Storrie continued: "They may have been drinkers but there were parameters for their behaviour and that's why, despite these recent events, she looks, for a woman with that kind of history, well today. Frightened, but well."