A man under the influence of drink carried out a sudden screwdriver attack on his long-term partner he had accused of cheating on him.

Durham Crown Court heard that seeing a sudden movement coming towards her face after  Glen Wigham entered her bedroom, the victim, who was on her bed looking at her phone, instinctively put up her arm to protect her face.

The court was told it resulted in her receiving a stab wound to her left lower forearm.

Martin Towers, prosecuting, said the victim was unaware what implement was used, but she believed it to be a screwdriver, which the defendant had been carrying.

(Image: Durham Constabulary)

Mr Towers said the defendant, who had earlier been drinking at a friend's house, called her a "dirty b***ard" as he carried out the attack, having accused her of cheating on him with a neighbour.

Following the stabbing, Wigham then punched her to the top of the head.

The victim pushed him towards a wardrobe and told him she would ring the police.

Mr Towers said by that stage blood was squirting from her forearm, with flesh hanging out from the wound.

Wigham left the house via the back door and the victim placed a tea towel over the injured arm, rang her mother and then went to her address, from where an ambulance was summoned.

She was taken to hospital where the wound was cleansed and stitches inserted.

Mr Towers said apart from the 3.5 by 2.5cm arm injury, which was treated with 17 stitches, she also suffered a bump to the top of her head and a scratch to the top of her arm.

In a short statement given to police the victim said she was nervous about what the defendant may do when he gets out of prison and she requested the imposition of a restraining order.

She said she had been in an "on/of" relationship with the defendant for 21 years, but it had become difficult in the period prior to the attack, on June 18, this year, due to his heavy use of alcohol.

Wigham, 41, of Duddon Close, Peterlee, admitted a charge of wounding with intent when he appeared before magistrates recently, and the case was sent to the crown court for sentence.

Friday's (August 30) sentencing hearing was told the defendant has 34 convictions for 79 offences, including cases of robbery, burglary wounding and other assaults on his record, but offending which has diminished in recent years.

(Image: Durham Constabulary)

Tony Davis, in mitigation, said the defendant made an early guilty plea and fully accepts responsibility for his actions.

"The relationship had developed into a toxic one, exacerbated by consumption of alcohol and/or drugs.

"He's now utterly remorseful but he understands the relationship has come to an end.

"His aspiration is to move away from the area once his sentence has concluded."

Mr Davis said the defendant told him he had been using the screwdriver within the household on the day of the incident at the time he lost his temper.

"He didn't seek to evade matters by challenging the account of the victim."

(Image: The Northern Echo)

Judge Nathan Adams said it was, "perhaps fortunate" that the injury inflicted by the defendant was not more extreme, had the victim not raised her arm to protect herself.

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Despite his record dating back to offences committed as a youth in 1994, the judge noted that the defendant had, to an extent, "cleaned up his act" in recent years.

"So, it's perhaps, unfortunate that you end up back here for a more serious assault," added Judge Adams.

He imposed a 40-month (three years and four months) prison sentence and made the defendant subject of a restraining order, prohibiting him from contacting or approaching the victim, either directly or indirectly, for life.