A husband who plunged a kitchen knife into his wife’s thigh in a bedroom attack has been locked up for three-and-a-half years.

After the attack, which left the victim bleeding profusely, Gary Parker apologised and then applied salt to the wound.

His wife only went to hospital after she went to a friend’s home, upset and badly injured.

The defendant was remanded in custody awaiting trial over the incident and tried to persuade his wife not to give evidence, using her vulnerability to his advantage.

Burnley Crown Court was told how that the defendant was an alcoholic.

Parker’s barrister claimed this time there was no prospect of he and his wife being reconciled on his release from prison.

Parker, 48, formerly of Cross Street, Oswaldtwistle, admitted wounding and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Louise Whaites, prosecuting, said the couple’s relationship had been volatile.

Both had been drinking when the incident occurred in January.

Miss Whaites said Parker was agitated, abusive and threw crockery around.

He then punched his wife in the face repeatedly before the pair went to bed.

Parker then found a knife, which his wife had put under the pillow for peace of mind and was angry.

He pushed her onto the bed and tried to stab her in the head.

They struggled, the defendant caught his wife’s temple and then plunged the knife into her thigh.

Police attended after the call from the friend and found the victim with facial injuries.

Parker was arrested at home and tried to claim the stabbing was a "terrible accident."

The victim was taken to hospital, where medics found bruising, swelling, tenderness and a gash to the face and a deep, three centimetre wound to her thigh.

Miss Whaites added Parker had five previous convictions for assaulting his wife and on one day was convicted twice in two different courts.

Bunty Batra, for Parker, said he had tried to turn over a new leaf while in custody for the past 11 months.

He had been attending counselling, been working on relationship, substance misuse and anger management issues and had sought the help of the mental health services.

Parker, suffers anxiety and depression, the court heard.