A CONTROLLING husband who viciously stabbed his wife after she returned home from a sex session with another man has been jailed for 11 years.

Paul Temple was cleared of attempted murder by a jury at Teesside Crown Court, but found guilty by an 11 to one majority of wounding with intent to cause serious harm to his wife Sharon.

The 48-year-old had been “hell-bent” on confrontation after using a mobile phone to track the victim to a secret tryst with her lover.

When she returned home and told Temple she had a good time, he “saw red”, trial judge Simon Bourne-Arton said, and stabbed her with force with a kitchen knife.

He also held the knife to her neck during the confrontation at the couple’s home in Norfolk Street, Stockton, on May 16 this year, and told her: “Die you cheating bitch”.

The blow punctured her lung and she was also knocked to the ground and kicked by Temple, although her injuries were not life-threatening.

Judge Bourne-Arton - the Recorder of Middlesbrough – said Temple showed his true character by leaving her slumped bleeding on the kitchen floor without any concern.

The judge said Temple, who had denied the charges, then tried to concoct an account to justify his actions.

During the sentencing, one of Temple’s sons swore and stormed out of the courtroom.

Undeterred by the interruption, Judge Bourne-Arton said he was satisfied that Temple had sought to control his wife and had continued to make accusations against her in order to blacken her character.

Mrs Temple admitted having several affairs, stating the relationship was marred by her husband’s constant nagging and jealousy. She said she had told her husband she didn’t love him anymore.

Judge Bourne-Arton told Temple: “You could not accept that the relationship was over, certainly on her terms.

“You decided to make her life miserable, knowing her vulnerability because of her depression.”

The judge said Temple’s explanation that he had tracked the whereabouts of her wife out of concern for her was ludicrous.

He added: “You knew what she was doing and your bitterness and anger grew as the afternoon went on.”

Prosecutor Nick Dry said the attack had been of a sustained nature and had left the victim unable to return to her home.

The court heard that Temple, who previously lived with his wife in Ferryhill, County Durham, was a devoted father with no previous convictions and several references were handed into the court on his behalf.

Jo Kidd, mitigating, said: “He continued efforts to try and maintain the family unit in what was a very unhappy marriage.”

Detective Sergeant Dave Snaith, of Cleveland Police’s domestic abuse unit, said: “Everyone should feel safe in their own home and Temple not only physically hurt his wife, but took any feelings of safety and security away from her.”