Navy wife Crystal Smith, 30, crept up the stairs before stabbing her husband, who was packing his bag to leave her, and severed an artery

A mother-of-one who stabbed her sailor husband three times in the back as he packed a bag to leave their 'doomed marriage' has been jailed for nine years.

A court heard navy wife Crystal Smith, 30, of Southsea, Portsmouth, 'crept up the stairs in stockinged feet' before stabbing her husband three times, severing an artery.

Portsmouth Crown Court heard sailor Simon Smith, 30, was subjected to sustained domestic abuse from his wife during their six-year marriage.

The jury was told throughout their relationship Smith controlled her husband's finances and threatened to take his daughter from him if he ever left her.

As she was jailed on Tuesday a weeping Smith doubled over shaking uncontrollably and began shouting: 'Please Simon tell the truth, please Simon tell the truth.'

Smith stabbed her husband at the home they shared in Gosport, Hampshire, after a navy function for the crew of HMS Lancaster at the Royal Beach Hotel in Southsea on February 12 this year.

The court heard that while they were at the function a drunk Smith humiliated the Leading Seaman, publicly accusing him of infidelity.

As they returned home in a taxi she sang at him in a rap style, repeatedly saying she would make it 'rain with pain'.

When the pair arrived home Smith then threw a knife block at him and punched him.

Mr Smith decided to leave before returning to get his house keys and pack a bag.

Stabbing victim Simon Smith (pictured) was subjected to sustained domestic abuse from his wife of six years

The bloody knife used by Smith to stab her husband of six years, Simon, three times in the back following a row

Addressing Smith during her sentencing, Judge Sarah Munro QC said: 'As he calmly packed his bag you armed yourself with the sharpest knife around.

'You crept up the stairs in stockinged feet and as his back was turned, stabbed him with glancing blows and one through the back of his arm through to the front, severing his arterial vessel and spurting vast quantities of blood all over him and you and down the stairs as he went to get help.'

She added: 'I'm quite satisfied the consequences of what you did very shortly hit you and at the time you stabbed Simon, you were fuelled by the fury you had worked yourself up to and had the intention to cause him really serious harm.'

The judge added the pair's marriage was 'doomed to fail'.

Following the attack Mr Smith had to undergo repeated operations for his stab wounds, one of which went straight through his arm.

When police arrived at the couple's house they discovered the bloody knife (pictured) used in the attack

Jurors took three hours to clear former probation worker Smith, who has no previous convictions, of attempted murder but found her guilty of the alternative charge of wounding with intent.

In a victim impact statement read out in court by prosecutor Barnaby Shaw, Mr Smith said: 'I was the victim of sustained physical abuse from my wife Crystal over the six years we were together.

'Crystal was the only serious relationship I ever had. Because I had nothing to compare it with I simply accepted it as normal.

'This incident has had a profound impact on my life and will continue to do so over many years.

'I have lost feeling in my left arm and it may never return.'

Crystal Smith hides behind her umbrella as she arrives at court following the attack on her husband

Mr Smith was forced to leave his job on the frigate HMS Lancaster, taking up a role at shore base HMS Collingwood, in Fareham, Hampshire, so he could look after their four-year-old daughter.

He added: 'I'm left with recurring nightmares of the night of February 12.'

During the trial Smith claimed her husband had attacked her and said she 'came to' with no memory of the attack.

But the judge said she was satisfied the sailor had not attacked his wife and had only ever restrained her once.

Judge Munro added that by February 15, Smith, who was drunk at the navy function, had begun to manufacture excuses for what she had done.

Matthew Jewell, defending, said she had sought help for her husband after the attack.

Jurors heard Smith believed her husband had cheated on her but the judge said this was untrue.

Detective Sergeant Roger Wood said: 'This matter has highlighted the hidden, but sadly growing number, of domestic abuse cases where the female is the abuser.

'Simon, after enduring a catalogue of abuse from Crystal Smith, has been brave enough to see this case through to a conclusion.

'Crystal Smith has spread a web of lies among her friends to paint the picture that her husband Simon was the aggressor.'

Speaking after the sentencing father-of-one Mr Smith said he now hopes he can move on with his four-year-old daughter.

He said: '[The sentence] gives me the opportunity to move on with my life.

'She's not going to be there for our daughter growing up but that's not my fault, that's her fault.

'I expected to be called a liar and be accused of what she accused me of.

'But at the end of the day the jury believed she was the liar.'