Trimley St Martin woman, 52, avoids going to prison after cutting partner’s wrist and leg with a knife during row about work colleague

A Trimley St Martin woman who cut her partner with a knife during a row has walked free from court after a judge decided not to send her straight to prison.

Pauline Horvath, an acting post office manager, attacked Mark Doyle during a “brief explosion of anger and violence” which resulted in him suffering a cut to his arm and a puncture wound to his calf which needed stitches, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Laura Kenyon, prosecuting, said Horvath and Mr Doyle had a “volatile, on and off relationship” and on March 19 they had visited a pub and had a meal at an a Indian restaurant before returning to Horvath’s address.

Horvath was tidying up in the kitchen when she and Mr Doyle had a row about one of his work colleagues and she went into the lounge with a knife she had been drying.

Mr Doyle had put up his arm to Ward off a blow with the knife and suffered a cut to his wrist.

The couple had fallen to the floor and Mr Doyle had suffered a puncture wound to his calf.

After the incident, Horvath had tried to assist him by giving him first aid until paramedics arrived.

The court heard in a victim impact statement Mr Doyle said he did not want Horvath to go to prison.

Horvath, 52, of High Road, Trimley St Martin admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Doyle on March 19.

Sentencing her to a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, Judge John Devaux described her relationship with Mr Doyle as “destructive” during which they had both shown aggression.

He ordered her to pay £2,000 compensation to Mr Doyle and to pay £350 costs.

He also made a restraining order banning Horvath from contacting Mr Doyle for five years.

Steven Dyble, for Horvath, said his client had no previous convictions, but accepted she had a caution for common assault on Mr Doyle arising out of an earlier incident.

He said Horvath and Mr Doyle had been involved in a “toxic” relationship and she had attacked him in a “brief explosion of anger and violence.”

He said the couple’s relationship was characterised by them both drinking too much and rowing.

He added there had not been any contact between Horvath and Mr Doyle since the incident in March and she was now drinking less and working as an acting post office manager.