Former Doncaster miner slashed wife's hand with knife after she left him for another man

Robert Melvin, aged 63, barged into the Rossington flat where his wife was staying with a new partner, "ranting and raving," and demanding why she had left him, said prosecutor Robert Sandford.

He threw a carrier bag of cash at her and said: "You wanted half my money, well here it is."

"He produced a Stanley knife and lunged at her," Mr Sandford said.

"You wanted me to die on Sunday," Melvin shouted. "Well I'm going to see you die now."

When his wife knocked the knife from his hand, he grabbed another kitchen knife from the draining board, saying: "Well, I'll use that one then."

During the struggle, his wife's hand was sliced twice, and she later received 11 stitches in hospital.

Melvin stamped on her mobile phone and various cans of beer, causing them to burst, and damaged her necklace during the scuffle.

He stormed out of the address at around 9.20am, on April 15, and there were concerns he had taken an overdose when he was arrested.

Sheffield Crown Court heard his wife ended their 30 year relationship three days earlier, triggering abusive texts from Melvin.

In police interview, Melvin claimed the cuts to her palm and the webbing between thumb and forefinger were "accidental."

In a statement she said she was "really frightened and shaken up," carries a personal alarm and is nervous when she leaves the house, Mr Sandford added.

"I believe he could have killed me," she said. "I am really scared he will try to kill me again."

Edward Moss, mitigating, said the former miner and grandfather was of previous good character, and the incident was "totally out of character."

"There was no intention to harm,” he said. “He came around because of the upset about the ending of the relationship. He has expressed genuine remorse.

"The intent was to harm himself. He was desperately trying to save the marriage but he completely misjudged his approach.

"He is now moving on with his life,” Mr Moss said. “He is mortified by the impact on his family. He is probably more of a risk to himself than others.”

The court heard there was no previous history of domestic abuse and Melvin suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) and asthma, as well as mental health issues relating to the case.

Melvin, of Radburn Road, Rossington, Doncaster, pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, unlawful wounding and criminal damage, on May 18.

On Friday, Judge David Dixon told him he had used self harm in the past as "controlling behaviour," and said: "Under normal circumstances I would lock you up, but these are not normal circumstances."

He imposed a 15 month sentence, suspended for 18 months, with 30 rehabilitation days. An eight-year restraining order, banning Melvin from contacting his wife and her new partner, was imposed.

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