Woman put knife to partner's throat after pair's heavy drinking bout

A TURBULENT three-year relationship ended in drunken violence involving threats with a knife, Truro Crown Court heard.

Lesley Odendaal put a serrated blade to Christopher Parsons' throat, chased him and stabbed at the door of the neighbour's home where he hid from her.

The pair had bought and drunk 20 cans of lager, Crown Prosecution Service prosecutor Elaine Hobson said on Friday.

"Odendaal began behaving in an irritating fashion, flicking his ear and pulling his chest hair, and calling him a 'fat, lazy, good-for-nothing'," she said. "She went into the kitchen, returned with a knife with a 5 to 6in serrated blade and said she was going to kill him."

Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk

myprint-247

View details

Print voucher

Our heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.

Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk

Contact: 01858 468192

Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013

Mr Parsons was at his computer when he felt the knife at his throat. He suffered slight injuries to his neck and arm, but did not need hospital treatment.

He ran to a friend's house, pursued by Odendaal who stabbed at the door, saying he made her life hell and she wanted to kill him. Odendaal, aged 25, of George Street, Truro, pleaded guilty to having unlawfully and maliciously wounded Mr Parsons and to having possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.

Probation officer Mary Lewis told the court that Odendaal was a vulnerable person who had been victimised and who needed help and counselling which the service could provide.

Commenting that Odendaal was a vulnerable individual who had chosen her partners unwisely, Judge Graham Cottle said it might have been that her victim was also vulnerable and they had ignited each other.

"You have spent three months in custody," he said in imposing a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years, with supervision throughout, together with a restraining order banning her from contacting Mr Parsons in any way. "You do not get more than one chance – take it," he added.

Odendaal must also attend 'female offender group' sessions and the work, training and education programme.