A Chippenham woman who was attacked by her knife- wielding husband was saved when the blade snagged on her bra, a court heard.

Lee Dennis, 45, is accused of attacking wife Nikola with a 14-inch kitchen knife at their home during a row over their impending divorce.

She suffered deep cuts to her hands and chest as she battled to fend him off and Dennis then attempted to plunge the weapon into her chest, it was claimed.

But the blade got caught in the underwiring of her bra – which had ridden up during the struggle.

Dennis admitted unlawful wounding but denies wounding with attempt to cause grievous bodily harm at Bristol Crown Court.

The trial heard how their marriage had been in trouble for some time but they continued living together.

Chef Dennis pestered his wife “hourly” about the split before he finally snapped at around 10.30pm on March 11, the court heard.

Prosecutors allege he first attempted to strangle her in the kitchen of their semi-detached home in Kent Close.

Hannah Squire, prosecuting, said: “Nikola was thrown to the floor and had her head slammed against it.”

She then fled to the garage where Dennis followed her with the knife.

Mrs Dennis demonstrated to the court how the kitchen knife’s point got caught in the wiring of her bra as the pair struggled on the floor.

She said: “The underwire from the bra stopped the knife going in.”

A next-door neighbour, hearing her screams, came to rescue her.

But Dennis then turned the knife on himself, slashing his wrists and neck and downing pills in an apparent suicide attempt, the court heard.

After the attack Mrs Dennis was treated for severe lacerations to both hands, and deep cuts to her chin and a minor cut on her left breast.

Jonathan Stanniland, defending, argued the scenario was unlikely because Dennis would have been able to overpower his wife. He said: “If Mr Dennis had pushed down with full force there is nothing you could have done to stop him.”

The trial continues.