Shropshire Star

Chat-up line attacker's victim was lucky to survive stomach wound

A woman jailed for stabbing a man following an argument about a chat-up line has been told she is fortunate her victim survived the near-fatal attack.

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Attacker – Marie Watton

Marie Watton, 26, was today starting a 10-year and nine month jail sentence for stabbing Jonathan Barras outside the Duke of York pub in January last year.

See also: Woman jailed for stabbing man who had called her 'fit'

Mr Barras required an emergency operation after she used a knife to inflict a six-inch wound to his stomach that cut through his liver, kidney and small bowel.

Judge Robin Onions said Watton,of Trench Road, Telford, would have been facing a minimum of 25 years if Mr Barras had died.

Shrewsbury Crown Court heard that Watton had been drinking vodka and had taken amphetamines before she took exception to Mr Barras calling her "fit" while they were both in the pub.

Marie Watton

Sentencing Watton, Judge Onions told her that the drink and drugs she had taken "played a considerable part in what you did that evening".

"I accept your background has not been easy. If you are vulnerable, that vulnerability seems to be exacerbated when you drink too much and take drugs."

He said she had run back to the scene after going to her friend Susan Davies's house, ignoring warnings to calm down.

"Without warning you crossed the road, said nothing, took out the knife and stabbed him. It was an injury of great seriousness." He said the wound had been "inflicted with considerable force and determination".

Judge Onions said the attack had been pre-meditated and taken place without warning in the dark against a man made vulnerable by the effects of drink and the violence he had already suffered. You are fortunate that what you did did not have greater consequences."

Mr Paul Smith, representing Watton, said his client accepted responsibility for the attack and was sorry for what had happened.

"She is very clear she wishes to apologise to Mr Barras and the court." He said earlier in proceedings that it was "highly unlikely" all that had been said to Watton had been "you're fit". He said:?"There is clearly more going on than that."

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