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A young woman who stabbed her boyfriend with a kitchen knife and bit a police officer after a radiator was ripped from her wall was handed a suspended sentence earlier today (April 17).

Emily Coldrick, 20, of Chalkwells Way in Trumpington, Cambridge, was arrested after a row resulted in her stabbing her 25-year-old lover in the shoulder with a kitchen knife on March 26 last year.

The court heard the pair had been hosting a party at Coldrick’s house when the argument began.

Both had been drinking at the abode, where it was reported that a man had ripped a radiator from a wall. The couple both had a verbal argument, where it was alleged that the boyfriend pushed Coldrick.

Coldrick then grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed her boyfriend in his left shoulder.

The boyfriend called his friends for help after realising he had been stabbed.

They called police and helped him get outside – away from Coldrick, who was 18 years old at the time.

She followed them and wanted to speak with her boyfriend but was restrained by one of the friends.

When police arrived, Coldrick was arrested and bit PC Jess Smith on the arm through her police jacket.

The stabbing victim was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital where he required surgery on his shoulder.

In a police interview, Coldrick denied stabbing her boyfriend but admitted biting PC Smith.

She said she suffers from panic attacks and will ‘bite when she feels trapped’.

However, in court Coldrick admitted causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) without intent in relation to the stabbing, assault by beating, and resisting an officer in the execution of their duty.

Mitigating, defense lawyer Claire Matthews told the court: "She was suffering from an extreme panic attack and the biting was taking place as they were trying to lift her. This wasn’t a deliberate attack.

"This was a young woman who had never been arrested being taken into a police vehicle. She was utterly hysterical. She was 18 at the time.

"She has since this incident not committed any further offences."

In an attempt to mitigate a possible jail term, Ms Matthews added: "Everything indicates that this is a young woman who would fare extremely badly in prison.

"A doctor and social services indicate that this is an extremely complex young woman.

"She has sought counselling and medication."

At Cambridge Crown Court today (April 17), she was sentenced to 12 months in prison for the GBH, suspended for two years but with a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement (RAR) to address offending behaviour, and she must also carry out 160 hours of unpaid work.

The other two charges will lie on file.

Detective Constable Kevin Sutcliffe said: “There had been some issues between the couple on the night of the incident, but what Coldrick did cannot be justified – attacking someone with a knife is never acceptable.

“I hope that today’s sentence, particularly the RAR, will go some way to changing Coldrick’s behaviour and make her think about the consequences of her actions.”