Woman jailed for 'grave' city centre stabbing

Christie Peel admitted wounding and possessing a knife

A woman who stabbed another woman in the chest with a "large kitchen knife" in a city centre scuffle has been jailed.

The victim had gone to buy drugs when she was set upon by Christie Peel, 31, in Sunderland in the early hours of 9 March, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Recorder Nathan Moxon said the woman's injuries, which included a punctured lung, were "grave" and Peel had sought to "victim blame" in the aftermath.

Peel, of Lily Street in Sunderland, admitted wounding and possessing a knife and was jailed for two years and a month.

The woman was speaking to a drug dealer at about 02:00 BST in Sunderland city centre when Peel attacked her, sparking a "scuffle", prosecutor Joe Hedworth said.

Peel punched the woman in the mouth then stabbed her twice with a "large kitchen knife", puncturing her side and chest, the court heard.

She then fled, throwing the knife into a flowerbed next to a nearby hotel, Mr Hedworth said.

Police found the victim covered in blood at the hotel and she was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle for emergency treatment, the court heard.

'Weapon caution'

As she was being treated and prepared for surgery, the victim named Peel as the attacker and said the knife had been "massive", Mr Hedworth said.

The woman had a deep open wound to her chest causing a collapsed lung and another large gash to her side, the court heard.

Mr Hedworth said the injuries were "life-threatening" although that was disputed by Peel's legal team.

Recorder Moxon said there was no medical evidence declaring it was "life-threatening" but the injuries were "grave".

In mitigation, Josh Normanton said Peel had completed a sports science degree at the University of Sunderland and was training to become a teacher when her life spiralled out of control following a spate of bereavements.

The judge said many people lost loved ones without turning to crime.

Recorder Moxon said Peel had sought to "victim blame" and minimise her offending in the aftermath and she had committed the stabbing not long after being given a police caution for possessing an offensive weapon.