A MOTHER from Deeside who knifed her ex-partner in the throat has been told she presented a clear danger to the public.

Marie Saffy, who was sentenced to 10-and-a-half years, stabbed Paul Fellows with a 20cm bladed kitchen knife at the home they shared in Church Street, Connah’s Quay, after a drink-fuelled row.

Mold Crown Court was told Mr Fellows suffered a deep wound and an artery was severed. He needed six pints of blood transfused and spent time in intensive care at hospital.

“It was a fearsome weapon and the blows were made to the victim’s neck,” said Judge Rhys Rowlands, who said he was stepping back from imposing an extended sentence, although he noted Saffy was sentenced to a four-year term in prison in July 2004 for an “almost identical” offence against another former partner.

“You have been in volatile relationships in the past, but I can’t accept your behaviour was impulsive. It was a loss of temper in drink with a desire to punish the victim,” said the judge.

“You do pose a risk of causing serious harm to others.”

The court heard Saffy endured a volatile relationship with her ex-partner and the police were called out a number of times.

Mr Fellows was issued with a Domestic Violence Protection Order, which he had broken. But matters worsened after the lost his job and Saffy become infuriated about having to “subsidise” him.

Neighbours heard her shouting at Mr Fellows on the night of the attack about him not having work.

She took hold of the knife and attacked him while he was sitting in a chair.

Saffy, 52, was originally charged with attempted murder following the stabbing on January 28.

In a victim impact statement Mr Fellows said he was unable to shave as a result of the wound and now suffered from flashbacks. He said he had not been able to secure a job and his life had been turned upside down.

Defence barrister Andrew Green said Saffy understood that she faced a long custodial sentence.

He said she had suffered past abusive relationships and her mother passing away last year had affected her.

But he added: “It is a complex case as it is a matter of record the complainant was subject to a Domestic Violence Prevention Order which he breached.

“She says she was pushed off the chair, but what did happen before she used the knife isn’t an excuse for what she did.”

The counsel said Saffy had been a model prisoner on remand at HMP Styal Prison with a supervisor saying in a letter: 'From her very first day Maria has been a pleasure to have working in the workshop and she was clearly motivated to use the opportunity Recycling Lives has given her.'

Mr Green said: “That is a snapshot of a woman who has a very different side to her.

The positive side of her is that she is a hard worker,

but she doesn’t know what a healthy relationship is and that is a sad indictment of the men who have abused her over the years.”

Saffy, 52, of Church Street, Connah’s Quay, pleaded guilty to wounding Paul Fellows with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

She also pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment at Wrexham Police Station after her arrest.

After hearing the circumstances the judge expresses his disdain at the way she had verbally abused an arresting officer.

“You had the gall to say 'What are the likes of him doing as a police officer in Wrexham?',” he said.

“You had been drinking and I have no doubt that caused the behaviour in the house and in the police station.”

Saffy was sentenced to 10 years for the wounding and six months to serve consecutively for the racially aggravated public order offence.

DC Andrew Hughes, of North Wales Police, said after the sentencing hearing: “This was an horrific incident of domestic related violence. "Saffy has rightly been given a long custodial sentence for her violent actions compounded by racially abusing a police officer.

"We will always attempt to bring those responsible for such crimes before the courts."