A HUSBAND who stabbed his wife multiple times in a “crime of passion” has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Mark Smith attacked his wife and threatened to kill her at Holt Fleet Caravan Park, a court heard.

Kannan Siva, prosecuting, told Hereford Crown Court Smith had married Maureen Smith after being together for 15 months, but the pair had split after just over a year due to their volatile relationship, living in separate caravans at the park.

Smith was told by his wife she wanted another man and hated him, which led to him feeling suicidal as he still loved her, Mr Siva said.

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At 7.30am, on October 10, Smith took a knife and went to her caravan and, as soon as she answered the door, he grabbed her by the throat and said “I am going to kill you.” Smith then dragged over a sofa, at which point his wife noticed he had a bread knife in his other hand.

Mr Siva said, after a struggle, Smith stabbed her in the back “more than once,” causing puncture wounds of around 2cms, with doctors later finding other superficial marks all over her body.

“The attack came to an end when she kicked him between his legs,” Mr Siva said.

“She asked him if they could talk - this gave her the chance to get away, to her neighbour's caravan.”

Mr Siva said the victim had thought the attack lasted half an hour but, as Smith was recorded as calling police himself at 7.40am, the attack must have lasted less than 10 minutes.

Mr Siva said it was an unusual case as Smith, 66, confessed the crime in the call to the emergency services.

“The defendant said he was trying to scare her,” Mr Siva said.

“He told the police ‘can you arrest me please I just attacked my wife.’ He said he had no intention of leaving the scene. He called it a ‘crime of passion.’ In interview he said he was remorseful.”

Mr Siva explained an early charge of attempted murder was dropped with the Crown Prosecution Service offering no evidence, as Smith had admitted unlawful and malicious wounding, and possession of a knife at an early hearing.

Adam Weston, defending, said Smith was of previous good character and had already been in custody for three months.

Sentencing him, Judge Daniel Pearce-Higgins said Smith had 'snapped' in the attack, and there seemed to be some pre-meditation as he took the knife. But he said, although the injuries had been unpleasant, the stabbing had not been with force, and he had frank in admissions to police.

Smith was given a 12 month jail sentence, suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to complete 20 rehabilitation days, and to take a ‘better relationships’ course. Smith was also given a five year restraining order and must not contact his wife, unless through solicitors.