A WOMAN who was stabbed by her boyfriend kissed him yesterday as he walked free from court.

Valerie Downey, 46, often called the police to deal with drunken Robert Joyce, 47, during their six-year relationship but always withdrew her complaints.

Then, on March 14, he stabbed her in the left thigh with a knife after arriving drunk at her home and refusing to leave.

Ms Downey was taken to The James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, where two stitches were put into the wound, said Jolyon Perks, prosecuting.

Joyce was arrested the next morning and said he could recall touching the knife but did not remember what followed, Teesside Crown Court was told.

Mr Perks said: "He blamed his memory loss on his drunken state."

He added: "Eight days after the stabbing she made a further statement seeking once again to withdraw her original complaint."

Joyce had convictions for 22 previous offences, including headbutting a former girlfriend.

Colin Harvey, in mitigation, said: "It is a tempestuous relationship and they can't live without each other."

He added that the couple had been apart for six months because of the bail conditions, but Ms Downey had been desperate to see Joyce and the police were monitoring the situation.

The judge Recorder Neil Davey told Joyce: "It is an unusual case with an unusual background which involved medical matters and a relationship which can be described as tempestuous.

Joyce, of Lanshaw Green, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to actual bodily harm and was given two years' supervision with a community domestic violence programme.