Stabbed husband takes wife back

The court heard Henderson's husband has forgiven her

A wife who stabbed her husband to stop him leaving her has walked free from court and back into his arms.

When Carole Henderson stabbed her husband Christopher, the force of the blow snapped the weapon off at the handle leaving the blade embedded near his spine.

After an operation however, to remove it, Mr Henderson forgave his wife and pleaded at Southwark Crown Court for her to be spared jail.

On Friday Judge Valerie Pearlman said she took this into consideration when imposing a rehabilitation order on his wife, who had earlier admitted unlawful wounding.

I did stab him, so what? I did it to stop him leaving

Carole Henderson

The judge said Henderson's husband's wish for a reconciliation had helped save her from an otherwise inevitable prison sentence.

"This was a wicked offence and but for the grace of God could have had disastrous results," she said.

"But I have come to the conclusion the exceptional circumstances in this case and the interests of justice enable me to adopt a course of extreme leniency."

Henderson, 41, of Whiston Road, Haggerston, east London, admitted one count of unlawful wounding last November.

Life together

The court heard the attack happened after rising tensions over debts of £25,000, largely caused by her husband "drinking a lot of the family finances".

Henderson said: "We had a row. He was leaving, I hit him, he hit me, so I pulled a knife.

"I did stab him, so what? I did it to stop him leaving."

Patricia May, prosecuting, said that after making a full recovery, Mr Henderson made it clear he did not want any action taken against his wife, would not give evidence against her and wanted a reconciliation.

'Reconciliation hopes'

Kate Mallison, defending, said her client also wanted to "sort their problems out".

"The facts of this case are unusual. Her husband didn't want the matter to proceed.

"However, she has admitted an offence of unlawful wounding and has done that in the hope there is a reconciliation she believes her husband wants.

"She wants to make a go of it.

"In all the circumstances, it would be harsh to send her to prison."