Woman pleads for partner to be freed after knife attack

Lisa Shan successfully pleaded for Steven Timmins to be freed when he appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court on a video link from prison.

The couple, who have three children, had enjoyed a settled relationship for over 20 years until he lost his job, said Mr Gareth Walters, prosecuting, who added: "He started to take drugs and his personality changed."

On July 4 Miss Shan returned home from work to find her 36-year-old partner sitting on the back step.

The prosecutor continued: "She told him to go back to his dad's home because they could no longer live as they were."

Timmins flew into a rage, grabbed the woman round the neck and started to 'strangle' her, before dragging her across the kitchen so he could reach a knife.

The defendant pressed the blade to her throat and warned he would kill her and their children who are aged between 11 and seven, the court heard.

She was terrified but told him she loved him and managed to calm him down to such an extent that he put the knife away and left the address.

Mr Walters concluded: "She genuinely thought he was going to kill her and could have done so if she had not talked him down."

Timmins was arrested after police were alerted and had been held in custody since then.

Miss Shan told the court she wanted to renew their relationship and disclosed: "I am prepared to give him another chance.

"He needs help for this drug problem. That is what changed him. I am happy that the kids are safe. He loves them to bits and they are missing him a lot."

Timmins from Wood Road, Lower Gornal pleaded guilty to making threats to kill and assault and was given a ten-month jail sentence suspended for two years together with a community order. He was also ordered to do 80 hours unpaid work.

Judge James Burbidge QC told him: "Your partner believes you have been punished enough. This is a matter for the court and not the parties involved but she is an intelligent lady who is not under your control.

"She knows her own mind and is someone in whom I can put trust. These are exceptional circumstances. You owe her a large debt and should repay her by treating her with the upmost respect in future."