AN AIR stewardess from York who knifed her long-suffering husband in the back has walked free from court.

Mother of two and grandmother Karen Horrocks, 48, formerly of Clitheroe but now of Newlands Drive, Acomb, left Michael, her husband of 26 years, pumping with blood after she attacked him with a kitchen knife with a 12-inch blade in a row at their home.

She told him it was only a scratch, but he knew he had to go to hospital. She told him he should tell medical staff he had fallen off a ladder; otherwise she would lose her job with Thomson.

He suffered a two-centimetre laceration to his upper back but made a full recovery.

Horrocks, who admitted wounding but had no previous convictions, was given 52 weeks in prison, suspended for a year, with 12 months supervision and must comply with the community mental health team.

Burnley Crown Court heard that Mr Horrocks would say his wife had two identities. She could be a loving, attentive and charming wife but on the other hand could be devious, particularly over money, violent, volatile and destructive.

In a statement, he said he had not wanted his wife to be before the court or to be punished and he talked of a potential reconciliation.

Katherine Pierpoint, for Horrocks, said it was perhaps unusual and surprising to find a woman like the defendant before the courts for such an extremely serious matter.

Her relationship with her husband had been “extremely turbulent” and emotions were clearly running high.

She was sorry for what happened and realised that perhaps they should no longer be together as a couple. “As a result of this, she has now lost everything that she had.”

Judge Beverley Lunt said she tended to agree with Mr Horrocks that his wife needed professional help.