Suspended sentence for pensioner who stabbed husband as he grabbed her by throat

Elizabeth Jeacock, who had previously been the victim of a number of assaults at the hands of her husband David, took the five-inch kitchen knife to bed intending to put it under her pillow for protection.

Kevin Jones, prosecuting, said that the couple had been married for more than 25 years but the relationship encountered difficulties and they separated 18 months before the incident.

Mr Jones said "They got back together but the reason for the separation had always been an issue between them.

"Mr Jeacock had in the past been violent to Mrs Jeacock. It had resulted in him appearing before the courts."

On the day of the stabbing the pair went to Skegness and visited a two clubs but when driving home to Spilsby they began arguing.

Back at the property the arguing continued culminating in Mrs Jeacock stabbing her husband with the kitchen knife.

Mr Jones told the court "Mr Jeacock does not recall much about the incident save that he went into the bedroom. He then recalls lying on the floor with people over him.

"He had been stabbed by Mrs Jeacock. The wound to his chest penetrated the abdominal wall."

After the stabbing Mrs Jeacock telephoned 999 and confessed what she had done.

The court was told that there had been a number of previous matters of violence by David Jeacock towards his wife including an incident in 2016 when she suffered a broken nose.

Elizabeth Jeacock, 67, of West End Crescent, Spilsby, admitted a charge of unlawful wounding as a result of the incident on 12 May this year. She was given a two year jail sentence suspended for two years with a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 15 days.

Judge Simon Hirst told her that the fact that there had been provocation and previous incidents of violence towards Mrs Jeacock were factors in enabling him to suspend the prison sentence.

He added "There was provocation over the years.

"In my view there is no significant risk of you being a danger to the public. This arose out of a particular set of circumstances. It was a single blow. There is a realistic chance of rehabilitation and there is strong personal mitigation."

Sarah Taylor, for Jeacock, said she supported the recommendation contained in a probation report telling the judge "If you are minded to follow the recommendation I don't have anything to add."