A DRUNKEN man who stabbed his wife clean through the hand, severing a tendon, was jailed last week for three years.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that Anthony Hughes and Ann Marie Hughes were living under the same roof at the time, but she was in the process of divorcing him and had started a relationship with another man.

Defence counsel Mr Stuart Driver said that Hughes told police and a probation officer he thought she had been somewhat taunting and flaunting the new relationship.

"The house was like a pressure cooker and on this occasion it exploded," he said.

When the police arrived Hughes, a man of previous good character, was extremely drunk and his memory of things is not what it could be, he said. Hughes has been regarded as something of a model resident at the hostel in Stockport where he has been living since the offence, added Mr Driver.

Hughes, aged 40, formerly of Ryecroft Road, Wallasey, pleaded guilty to wounding his wife with intent on July 14.

Judge Gerald Clifton said that the attack had been 'horrific'. "The knife that was to hand in the kitchen penetrated her left hand from back to front. It must have been an absolutely terrifying ordeal."

Mr Ian Harris, prosecuting, told the court that they married in 1988 and her two children regarded Hughes as their father. But in 1992 Hughes began to drink to excess. His personality changed and he became aggressive towards her. She was frightened by him but still had affection for him. However, the situation got worse, added Mr Harris.

In April this year they started living separate lives, but remained at the same address, and in June she began seeing another man.

On the night of the attack, Hughes had returned home drunk and wanting his tea. He started to cook in the kitchen but started rowing with his wife because the burgers were raw, said Mr Harris.

He called her into the kitchen and went at her with a steak knife, which passed right through her hand and remained embedded in it as she ran to a neighbour's house for help, he said.

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