Wedding must wait as woman who stabbed boyfriend jailed for three years - after he begged for leniency

A WOMAN who stabbed her fiancé as he slept has been jailed for three years after her partner begged for leniency.

Tiffany Baillie, 32, stabbed chef Gregory Todd at their flat in Trinity Court, Hessle, after a night out drinking.

She punctured his lung and kidney with a 12in kitchen knife, almost killing him.

He had to stay in hospital for three months.

The Honorary Recorder of Hull and the East Riding, Judge Michael Mettyear told Baillie he would reduce the 12-year sentence as an "act of mercy" after receiving a letter from Mr Todd.

Judge Mettyear said Mr Todd had "completely forgiven" her.

He said: "You armed yourself with a substantial kitchen knife and stabbed him the back. It was a forceful blow with substantial penetration of his body.

"I'm quite sure you bitterly regret what you did. He made a remarkable recovery in view of what happened to him but it was more luck than judgment.

"You must realised what you did could have killed him or caused him long-term serious injury."

In a letter read out to the court, Mr Todd also asked permission to propose to her but he was not allowed.

The letter said: "She has made a huge mistake, which she will regret for the rest of her life.

"Please show compassion and allow her to show herself as a useful person in society.

"She will have a loving husband if you allow us to marry. We will not let you down."

Mr Todd bought a white gold and diamond engagement ring in the hope that she would get a suspended sentence.

Instead of asking her directly, he handed the ring to her barrister and asked him to pop the question for him.

Baillie has been jailed for three years at Hull Crown Court for causing grievous bodily harm with intent and Mr Todd, 48, is determined to wait for her.

He said: "I asked the judge to let us leave together, hand-in-hand. I came here with the ring in my pocket and I was hoping that he would let her go so I could propose properly.

"I'm glad the sentence has been brought down. I just want her out of there now.

"It would have been nice for her to be given a suspended sentence but he has been very lenient.

"Hopefully, we will only have to wait a year to bring her home.

"I have already put it behind me and I cannot change anything. I love her and we just have to figure out what we are going to do now.

"Our first meeting once she was in prison was difficult and we have only seen each other five times since.

"It'll be 52 more visits until we can be together again.

"I just want to marry her now."

The court heard Baillie stabbed Mr Todd, a chef at The Weir Bar in Hessle, after the couple argued on a night out on December 4 last year.

Both had been drinking.

Mr Todd said it happened close to the anniversary of the death of her 10-week-old son, Lucas, and just weeks after she suffered a miscarriage.

• Woman who stabbed partner looking forward to their wedding after judge's 'act of mercy'