A Judge has shown mercy on a Newton Abbot pensioner who stabbed her husband after hearing how she turned to drink to cope with the boredom of retirement.

Pauline Tickell repeatedly slashed her husband George with a knife she was using to cut vegetables during an argument about her drinking.

She was freed on a suspended sentence after a Judge at Exeter Crown Court was told that her husband had tried to withdraw his complaint and wanted her home.

Tickell, aged 72, has also tackled a drink problem which started when she was forced to retire from her job escorting disabled children to school.

Her husband George, aged 76, suffered cuts to his left arm and wrist and a small injury to his stomach during the attack at the couple’s home in Newton Abbot in July last year.

Tickell, of Hillmans Road, Newton Abbot, admitted wounding and was jailed for eight months, suspended for a year, and ordered to do 60 hours’ unpaid community work and receive alcohol rehabilitation.

Recorder Mr Philip Mott, QC, told her: ’This is not a case for immediate custody. It involves the use of a knife which you were using for food preparation. I take into account all I have read about your domestic history and previous marriage.

’I also take into account your husband’s attitude in relation to this prosecution and give you full credit for pleading guilty. I hope you find the unpaid work therapeutic and you continue to deal with your alcohol issues.’

Nigel Wraith, prosecuting, said police were called to the couple’s home on July 30 but the recollections of both Tickell and her husband were ’cloudy’, in her case because of drink and medication.

He said: ’Police who were called to the house spoke to Tickell, who acknowledged causing the injuries with a knife. She said one thing or another had built up.

’Mr Tickell was bleeding heavily and there were signs of disorder with picture frames and ornaments strewn across the room. He said he did not want to press charges.

’He said it all got out of hand because he kept going on and on at her about her drinking.

’She said he had kept going on at her until ... and then demonstrated a stabbing gesture. She later said she already had the knife in her hand because she was cutting vegetables. She said she had drunk two or three vodkas and was "fired up".’

Peter Coombe, mitigating, said Tickell would welcome unpaid work at a charity shop because she lacked outside interests and hobbies in her life since she retired at the age of 70.

He said: ’She worked for the local authority and used to help disabled children to school. She found a void in her life when she was forced to retire.

’Until the last hearing she was living under bail conditions which required her to live apart from her husband and as a result her £4,000 of savings have been used to pay for alternative accommodation.’