A mum who stabbed her boyfriend during a row on Christmas Day last year has walked free from court.

Emma Leeson plunged a knife into the back of Kerry Sadd, her partner of 17 years, during an argument at their home.

But after hearing how the attack took place in the heat of the moment a judge imposed a probation order and told the 35-year-old to go on a programme to help her with debt.

Richard Thomas, prosecuting, told Swindon crown court how the offence took place over the festive season last year when the couple were going through a "rough patch".

Mr Sadd went to the pub at about midday, he said, returning home "tipsy" at about 3pm to see his teenage daughter preparing the Christmas dinner.

A few hours later at about 6.20pm the court was told Leeson got home from work and the couple did not speak to each other.

Mr Thomas said at about 8.30pm Mr Sadd was in the living room when he shouted ëYouíre too busy going out to rather than making me dinnerí.

He recalled her yelling something back before a heated shouting match took place before he went upstairs.

As he went he felt a tap on his back and then saw his daughter, who said "Calm down, it's Christmas" before screaming seeing he was bleeding.

He saw blood on his shirt and was later found to have a one centimetre puncture wound to his back.

When she was questioned Leeson made a full and frank admission to taking a knife from the kitchen and stabbing him.

Mr Thomas said the prosecution had been brought despite there being little co-operation from the victim.

Leeson, of Haywards Place, Easterton, pleaded guilty to a charge of actual bodily harm.

Alex Daymond, defending, said the offence took place against a background of a history of domestic violence.

ìThis, I submit, was an overreaction on the part of the defendant,î he said.

He said she was no longer with the victim and described bail conditions keeping them apart as ëa blessing and giving her breathing spaceí.

She was now living away from him with her daughters aged 18 and 16 and looking on to getting on with her life without him.

Mr Daymond added that she was convicted on her admissions as otherwise it would have been difficult for the prosecution to prove their case as Mr Sadd had withdrawn his support for the case.

Recorder Paul De la Piquerie ordered she completes one year of probation and do at least ten sessions of offender debt advisory services.