A RECOVERING drug addict who stabbed his partner in the back with a carving knife has been jailed for a minimum of 28 months.Michael Hunte plunged the knife into Jill Hunter's back causing a six centimetre wound and then struck her several times on the head with the weapon in a frenzied attack, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

A RECOVERING drug addict who stabbed his partner in the back with a carving knife has been jailed for a minimum of 28 months.

Michael Hunte plunged the knife into Jill Hunter's back causing a six centimetre wound and then struck her several times on the head with the weapon in a frenzied attack, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Miss Hunter tried to defend herself and suffered cuts to her fingers, said Andrew Shaw prosecuting.

During the incident, Mr Shaw said Hunte shouted: “I'll cut your arteries and slash the back of your legs.”

After the attack Hunte left Miss Hunter's flat in Hollingsworth Road, Lowestoft and she was found by one of her daughter's friends who heard her shouting for help. “There was blood everywhere,” said Mr Shaw.

Miss Hunter was taken to hospital where she was found to have a six centimetre deep stab wound to her back, two large wounds on her head and a bite mark on her shoulder.

Hunte, 39, of London, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm on Miss Hunter with intent.

Judge John Devaux told Hunte that he represented a significant risk of causing serious harm by the commission of further offences in the future.

However Judge Devaux said he did not consider it necessary to pass a life sentence on him. He directed that Hunte should serve a minimum of 28 months less 166 days he had served on remand.

At the end of the 28 months Hunte will be eligible for release if the parole board considered that his continued detention was not necessary for the protection of the public. On his release Hunte will be on licence for 10 years.

Mr Shaw told the court that Miss Hunter had met the defendant while they were both on a drug rehabilitation course and she had allowed him to move in with her.

Hunte had been taking a number of prescribed medications and had been advised that he should not drink alcohol with them, the court heard.

Two days before the stabbing, Hunte had run after Miss Hunter holding a kitchen knife. On that occasion he had grabbed her by the hair causing her head to bang against a wall before ordering her back to the flat.

On the day in question Hunte had an argument with Miss Hunter's 12-year-old daughter and she had stood up for her daughter.

Hunte had then run at Miss Hunter and had stared her in the face. He then struck her in the back and she realised that she had been stabbed, said Mr Shaw.

After the attack Hunte had put the bloodstained knife in a postbox and had gone to a bar and smashed a window after being told that the premises were shut.

After his arrest Hunte told police that he was a recovering drug addict and suffered from bi-polar disorder.

Andrew Oliver, for Hunte, said his client had a long history of drug abuse and had used crack cocaine and heroin. Prior to the attack on Miss Hunter he had started to drink to excess and this had put a strain on their relationship.

On the day of the attack Hunte had drunk a large amount of lager and had some medication in his system.

Mr Oliver said the attack was not planned and Hunte had expressed remorse for what had happened.