One British man is taking a stab at love -- with the very woman who stabbed him.

In Hall Crown Court, a dressed up Gregory Todd, 48, popped the question to the love of his life, 32-year-old Tiffany Baillie.

Yet he couldn't get down on one knee and utter words of love and devotion. Instead, Todd proposed at an open hearing, asking from across a courtroom through Baillie's lawyer.

Now, Todd has to wait for his answer, because Baillie is still in protective custody for stabbing him last December.

The couple was living together in Hessle, Humberside, when Baillie stabbed Todd in the back as he slept at their home one December night, according to the Telegraph. She plunged a 12-inch knife into the chef's back, piercing his liver, spleen and pancreas, causing wounds that would have been fatal had Todd not received emergency surgery right away.

After several months of recovery, Todd went to visit his girlfriend in prison and said he forgave her, Newser reported.

While originally charged with attempted murder, Baillie has admitted to a lesser charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, according to the Hull Daily Mail. Typically, such a case would result in a sentence between nine and 16 years, most often starting at 12 years, prosecutor Jharna Jobes told the paper, leaving a difficult decision for Judge Michael Mettyear.

The incident occurred close to the anniversary of the death of the couple's 10-week-old son and just weeks after a miscarriage, causing a severe struggle with grief when she stabbed her partner, lawyer Paul Genney argued.

"This just isn't like her. She doesn't need to be locked up, she needs help. There were a lot of signs, which maybe I should have picked up on, but I didn't," Todd told the Hull Daily Mail. "I don't hold this against her at all. Seeing her in prison is my worst nightmare."

"What is very unusual is the complainant asking for leniency," the judge said. "This is a very difficult case. The guidelines suggest I should impose a very long sentence, but I have to consider how much weight I can give to the views of your victim."

Todd hopes Baillie will be released soon so she can be his ball and chain for a real life sentence.