AN NHS worker who knifed her boyfriend while he was lying in bed during a brutal drug-fuelled attack has been caged.
Mother-of-one Leanne Melling, 34, admitted to savagely attacking her then boyfriend with a large kitchen knife while high and drunk.
Leanne Melling worked as a housekeeper at Macclesfield Hospital[/caption]
Melling was jailed for five years[/caption]
The NHS healthcare assistant lashed out at her ex-soldier boyfriend, Matthew Clark on January 19 in her home in Macclesfield, Cheshire.
At the time of the attack ex-soldier Clark had been in a relationship with Melling for about two years and had moved in with her and her five-year-old son.
A row erupted between the pair over Melling’s eratic behaviour with Mr Clark saying he was unaware of the large kitchen knife his ex was hiding behind her back.
Mr Clark had been using his phone to film Melling when she began abusing him at 1am after returning from visiting her mother.
During the fracas Melling used the blade to stab Mr Clark in the abdomen, he frantically grabbed the blade in a bid to stop her from stabbing him again – slicing his thumb in the process.
Mr Clark managed to escape downstairs and dial 999, he would later undergo emergency surgery after being rushed to hospital.
After her boyfriend’s escape Melling fled the scene through her bedroom window.
Officers later swooped on the NHS worker outside her mother’s house and she was cuffed and taken into custody.
During interviews she gave no comment before later claiming Mr Clark had been abusing her.
It was later said that the attack was fuelled by Melling’s drug and alcohol problems.
A court heard the mother had started snorting cocaine once a month ”recreationally” to deal with her depression.
She become so hooked on the narcotics that Mr Clark would lock both front and back doors and hide the keys to stop her going out to buy more drugs.
Ex-sodlier Clark, who now works as a retail manager, has forgiven Melling he says.
He told police: “The person that stabbed me that night was not my partner, I did not recognise her at all.
Ex-soldier Matthew Clark had to undergo emergency surgery after the brutal assault[/caption]
Melling fled through her bedroom window after the attack[/caption]
Clark and Melling had been together for around two years when the assault unfolded[/caption]
”I have already forgiven her for her actions that night, because I know she was not of her right mind.
“The only thing that will bring me any peace of mind going forward is knowing that Leanne would get the mental health support she so desperately wanted, that she so desperately needs so she can can be the best version of herself again.”
Melling pleaded guilty to the stabbing during a hearing at Chester Crown Court and has been put behind bars for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Miss Anna Price, prosecuting, said: ”Mr Clark felt she was having one of her manic episodes and he left to give her space but after about 45 minutes she phoned him, sounding calm, and he agreed to go back.
”But once Mr Clarke was home, the defendant started drinking wine and her behaviour became erratic again.
“Mr Clarke put the house keys on top of the kitchen shelves to stop her going out but after further argument she climbed out of a kitchen window then returned to the house a few minutes later and locked herself in the bathroom.
“Her behaviour varied from screaming at Mr Clark that she hated him to saying that she loved him and needed him.
“At about 1.30am Mr Clark was finally able to get her out of the bathroom and told her he was going to bed and after defendant came into the bedroom she sat on the bed singing, asked him if he wants to leave then lay next to Mr Clark laughing.
”At one point she told Mr Clark she loved him but he told her to go to sleep and she started telling him to get out of her house.
“Mr Clark began recording her on his phone and when she asked him to turn it off he said it was the only way he could stop her from hitting him.
“He asked her to promise to stop abusing him if he turned it off and then stopped recording but the defendant had a large kitchen knife behind her back.
“He challenged the defendant about her abusing him but after saying she was trying to control her anger, she stabbed him while he was lying in bed.
“Mr Clark initially thought the defendant had punched him then saw he was bleeding and realised she had stabbed him.
“He was screaming and crying while she continued to be aggressive and at one point she pushed him onto the bed, telling him that he was a horrible man.
Melling was in a drink and drug fuelled haze when she knifed ex-soldier Matthew Clark[/caption]
Mr Clark forgave Melling, saying ‘The person that stabbed me that night was not my partner, I did not recognise her at all’[/caption]
”He was telling her that he was going to die and begging her to call an ambulance and repeatedly told her to let go of the knife while she hysterical.
“She was between Mr Clark and the bedroom door, still holding the knife and he knew if he tried to run past her she would try and stab him again so he tried to grab the knife from her instead.
“He cut his thumb but was able to push the defendant to the floor, where they ended up wrestling whilst still had hold of the knife.
”Mr Clark started to feel faint but was able to loosen the defendant’s grip on the knife enough to be able to take it from her.
“He threw the knife on the bed, grabbed his phone and ran out of the room. He blocked the door to prevent the defendant from coming out after him and called for police and an ambulance.
“Mr Clark described himself as bolting down the stairs to let police because he he was scared that as soon as he let go of the bedroom door, the defendant would come out of the room after him and stab him from behind.”
Melling’s counsel, Daniel Lister, said: ”There is clearly another side to her when she is not using cocaine.
“She is a hard working employee, popular with her colleagues and has a generally positive nature in her outlook in life. But cocaine was the real problem and she is genuinely remorseful.
“The victim is obviously responding with formidable grace and forgiveness towards Miss Melling.
“He knew her better than anyone at that time. This demonstrates that this is someone who is capable of being a completely different individual when not under the influence of cocaine.”
Melling was slapped with a five year sentence at her hearing on Monday.
Passing down his sentence Judge Steven Everett told Melling: “What you did highlights the dangerousness of these evil drugs.
“They cause huge harm, huge harm to those who take them, and then huge harm to society because of the behaviour of those who take them.
“People who use these drugs commit other offences, robbery, stealing, burglary, all terrible things just to get those drugs – but you were employed and were able to get money to have those binges.
“That is your fault and because of the cocaine you took you did a terrible thing. You could have killed him – it is astonishing that he did not die.”
Mother-of-one Melling developed a cocaine and alcohol habit[/caption]
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