A WOMAN who ‘went berserk’ after a night drinking with her partner has been spared an immediate prison sentence.

Margaret Temple, 40, armed herself with several kitchen knives and slashed at his car when he threatened to leave following a row in the early hours of the morning.

Durham Crown Court heard she cut the upholstery of his Nissan Micra and scratched the paintwork outside her home in Hawthorn Terrace, Horden, County Durham.

Police attended at about 2.30am on February 21 and Temple initially pointed the blades at the officer before cutting at her own throat and arms.

She was pepper sprayed before the officer disarmed her with an extendable baton.

Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, said: “The officer was fearful that not only could she have killed herself, but other people.”

The court heard the row developed after an evening drinking in workingmen’s clubs in the area.

Her partner thought he had seen her kissing another man but her barrister Neil Bennett, said she had been rejecting unwarranted advances and the situation had been misconstrued.

Temple pleaded guilty to charge of possession of a bladed article.

Mr Bennett said: “She has learned her lesson. This lady is unlikely to trouble the court again.”

Judge Simon Hickey imposed a 12 month prison sentence suspended for a year.

He said: “You were going berserk. That is the best description I can think of. The officer should not have been subjected to such an incident. It must have been terrifying.

“It is right to say this is a one off and can be treated that way.

“Any further offending and you will be back before and I will lock you up. That is a promise. I hope we do not meet again.”