ARMED police faced a "nerve racking" situation when they faced a blind man who was threatening to cut his wife's throat, a judge said yesterday.

Powerfully-built Stephen Richardson, 48, dragged his wife Clare, 44, on to the patio of their home and held a 12-inch kitchen knife to her neck.

More than 20 officers surrounded the house in Hartlepool as PC Lesley Allison held telephone negotiations with Rich-ardson.

Eventually, he released his wife uninjured before surrendering in the garden two-and-a-half hours later, said Robert Terry, prosecuting.

The judge, Recorder William Lowe, praised Cleveland Police, saying: "The police had to attend and carry out what was no doubt a very difficult and nerve racking operation.

"Their conduct of the operation was impeccable, and as a result of that everybody emerged uninjured."

Richardson, an epileptic, had called his social worker three weeks earlier saying he was deeply depressed, but he was not seen because of staff shortages.

His mother also contacted the department, saying he was sobbing and threatening suicide, saying that he had a gun.

Armed police found him holding his wife with his arm across her chest and the knife to her throat, Teesside Crown Court was told. Richardson told them: "Come on, I'm going to kill her. Kill me, kill me."

Yesterday, she led him into court and also wrote a letter to the judge saying she did not feel at risk from him.

Graham Gaston, defending, said that the siege was a cry for help and he had not intended to harm anyone.

Richardson of Norfolk Close, Hartlepool, was given a two-year rehabilitation order after he admitted threatening to kill his wife on October 29 last year. The judge commended PC Allison.