Woman who stabbed partner in head with steak knife after he refused to say he loved her WALKS FREE

A PENSIONER who plunged a steak knife into her partner’s head because he refused to say he loved her has been allowed to walk free from court.

Carol Devaney, 64, stabbed Michael Richardson so hard she bent the knife blade and left him dripping in blood as he lay in bed.

But she dodged prison today and was placed on a curfew for seven months and under social work supervision for 18 months at Dundee Sheriff Court.

The court heard how Devaney woke her partner in the night to ask if he loved her and plunged the steak knife into his head when he said no.

She then knocked his phone out of his hand a number of times as he tried to call 999 to alert the police and request an ambulance at the scene.

Sheriff Alistair Carmichael said: “This is a very serious matter which is worthy of a custodial sentence, but I have to look at the other available options.”

Solicitor David Sinclair, defending, told the court: “She has taken steps not to find herself in the situation again where medicine and alcohol are a dangerous cocktail.”

Fiscal depute Andrew Harding told the court: “Mr Richardson and the accused had known each other for most of their lives, but had been out of contact for a number of years.

“They met about a year prior to this and had been in a relationship since. They spent the evening in the pub and had seven or eight alcoholic beverages.

“They walked the short distance home and then sat downstairs and watched TV while the accused continued consuming alcohol.

“She began to state she wanted to go home and he suggested she get a taxi. At 1.30 am they retired upstairs to bed. The light was turned off.

“She continued to state she wanted to go home. He told her to get a taxi. She left the bedroom with a bag full of her belongings.

“A short time after she left he became aware she had returned to the bed. He never said anything and continued to try to sleep.

“She touched him so he was awake and asked him if he loved her.” Mr Richardson replied: “No, because of all your mood swings.”

Mr Harding said: “He felt a blow to the back of his head like he had been struck by a hard object. He became aware of blood from the wound.

“He saw the accused with a steak knife which had come from the kitchen. The blade was bent at the end and he realised then that she had stabbed him to the head with the knife.

“There was a struggle between them and they both got to their feet. Mr Richardson was able to take possession of the knife and throw it into the sink.

“He put a towel over the wound. The accused was still standing on the landing when he phoned 999. She knocked the phone out of his hand.

“He picked it up and tried to call again. She knocked it out of his hand again. He took hold of the accused and threw her to the ground to allow him to dial 999.”

Devaney, Balgarthno Street, Dundee, admitted attacking Mr Richardson in John Street, Cellardyke, Fife, on 3 November 2021.

She admitted striking him on the head with a knife to his severe injury, although a reference to his life being endangered was dropped by the Crown.

The court was told that the victim was taken to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee and found to have a head injury which required stitches.

Mr Sinclair said: “She has never come to the attention of the courts before. She has pled guilty to a serious offence.”

He said Devaney was hopeful that she would be able to “re-engage” with her victim with a view to rekindling their relationship in the future.