A WOMAN who stabbed her abusive partner after getting stuck in a "cycle of domestic abuse" has been given a 36 month prison sentence.

Emma Copperwaite plunged a knife into the back of Khalid Hussain, who she had been in a relationship with for 14 years, on January 31 this year, nicking an artery and causing blood to flow into his lung.

Copperwaite, 33, of Market Street, Thornton, was sentenced for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm when she appeared at Bradford Crown Court yesterday.

Judge Mark Savill said he sympathised with her for the years of abuse she suffered, but told her court guidelines meant a prison sentence was inevitable.

Judge Savill said there was a "well established history" of domestic abuse and violence involving the couple, and police had been called to their address 38 times in the past few years.

One incident led to Copperwaite requiring surgery on her cheek bone, although she did not want to press charges.

Although much of the violence was against Copperwaite, the court heard that she had also abused Mr Hussain on occasion.

On the day of the stabbing Mr Hussain had arrived at her house, and because both had taken drink and drugs the situation soon descended into a violent argument.

Copperwaite was subject to "persistent physical attention" until she broke free. She went downstairs, picked up a knife and returned upstairs to Mr Hussain, stabbing him once in the back.

The court was told that Mr Hussain had made a full recovery, despite the severity of his injury.

Judge Savill described the decision to pick up the knife and return to her partner as a "regrettable and dangerous" one, and said she could have left the property.

He said: "This was an abusive relationship that you were on the receiving end of for much of the time. You made efforts to end the relationship, but the persistence of the victim meant this was not possible.

"Regrettably you made a very bad choice to pick up that knife.

"It was a very dangerous thing to do, and you did it with the intent to cause him harm.

"You have had a difficult life, and it is hard for me to say how much of that is due to your own failing and how much is down to the failings of others.

"You have found it very difficult to break free from the cycle of domestic abuse."

Copperwaite had pleaded guilty to the offence at a previous appearance last month.