A woman stabbed her boyfriend in a revenge attack as he tried to stop her packing too many clothes for a holiday.

Former invoice clerk Lesley Bradbury, 50, knifed Gary Moore in a 'pathological' rage when she discovered he had unloaded several items she had packed in their car.

Police called to the couple's home in Middleton, discovered driving instructor Mr Moore bleeding from a wound to his left bicep whilst Bradbury was shouting: ''He deserved it.''

Her excess clothing was found inside the property.

The victim was treated for his wounds but is thought to have made a full recovery.

A court heard Bradbury lashed out at Mr Moor as she suffered from a condition which causes her to hoard goods and protect them in a 'pathological way.'

She was initially charged with intent to cause grievous bodily harm but prosecutors accepted her guilty plea to unlawful wounding.

At Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, Bradbury, who is currently living in Stoke-on-Trent, was given 12 months jail suspended for 18 months.

She was also ordered to complete 30 days of rehabilitation activity requirement.

Mr Moore refused to give a statement to police and it is thought the couple are still together. No details of his treatment were given to the court and few details of the stabbing were given at the hearing.

The case had been delayed due to concerns about Bradbury continuing her relationship with Mr Moore.

The incident took place at 10.30pm on December 29 as the pair were packing for a holiday to see in the New Year.

Prosecutor Jonathan Turner said: “Police attended the home Bradbury shared with her partner and he was outside he had a two inch stab wound to his left bicep.

''The defendant had stabbed him with a knife after he moved some of her belongings out of the car they were packing for a holiday. She said to police he deserved it and she wanted to kill herself.

“Inside the house he had thrown some of her possessions and she had stabbed him in order to stop him. There is no complaint from the complainant - he is hopeful for a renewal in the relationship.''

In mitigation defence lawyer Richard English said: “It is a case where if the defendant was well this wouldn’t have happened.”

Sentencing Judge Paul Lawton who had said at a previous hearing that Bradbury would not be going to prison told her: “It has been difficult to get to the bottom of why you did this.

(Image: MEN Media)

“You do have a psychological disorder that causes you to hoard goods and you need to protect those in a pathological way so you lashed out at him with a knife.

“But that doesn’t reduce your culpability - the knife could have gone into the chest and it could have been a different scenario. Your conduct has to be marked with a prison sentence but it won’t be an immediate custodial sentence.''