Friday 23 April 2010

Couple Together Despite Twin Knife Attack


A woman who tried to stab her partner of nineteen years with two 9” kitchen knives while screaming she would kill him during a T.V. row dodged prison with a suspended sentence today.

Jobless Theresa Hogston, 51, slashed at David Diggins’ throat at their flat at Glenmill House, Hanworth Road, Hampton,Middlesex and threw the blade at his head during the “frenzied” attack.

Remarkably Mr. Diggins continues to support Hogston, who was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, even trying to persuade police to drop the prosecution eight days later and the couple continue to live together.

Hogston pleaded guilty at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court (pictured) to attempted grievous bodily harm, with intent, and threats to kill Mr. Diggins on December 1, last year.

Prosecutor Miss Hannah Dawson told the court: “The couple started arguing about the defendant’s apparent mood swings and also something silly about the television.

“The defendant told Mr. Diggins: ‘Don’t talk to me like that. I’m going to kill you.’

“She then appeared in the doorway with a large kitchen knife and he tried to disarm her and pushed her into the kitchen.

“She appeared again with another knife, again approximately nine inches long and she went for him in a frenzied attack saying: ‘I’m going to kill you this time’.

“He had to disarm her and she caught him in the ribs with the handle of the knife,” added Miss Dawson.

As Mr. Diggins fought Hogston off he managed to dial 999 and when officers arrived she was in bed crying under her duvet.

“She claimed she loved him and admitted she had waved the knife around his neck area and thrown the knife at his head,” explained Miss Dawson.

Recorder Mark Milliken-Smith QC told first-time-offender Hogston: “Ordinarily attempted grievous bodily harm, with intent, would result in a lengthy prison sentence of some years.

“The repeated use of as knife with intent to injure someone, with intent to do serious harm is extremely serious,” he added.

Accepting the attack was “spur of the moment” Recorder Milliken-Smith added: “Perhaps it was a reaction to an off the cuff remark by your partner that triggered the incident.

“It is impressive your partner wants to stand by you and take car of you.”

Hogston was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, on both counts and placed under two years probation supervision.

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