Norfolk woman 'could have killed' ex-partner she stabbed

Marquita Kershaw, 40, stabbed Wayne McCloud in the chest with a large kitchen knife following a scuffle outside her home in Mace Road, Bradwell, near Great Yarmouth.

Police at Mace Road, Bradwell after the stabbing (Image: Newsquest)Norwich Crown Court heard Kershaw, who had drunk at least seven cans of Budweiser, "was not happy" with Mr McCloud, who she had been in an "on-off relationship with".

Norwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)John Morgans, prosecuting, said after returning from a trip with his children from a previous relationship Kershaw told him to "go back to his ex-wife".

An argument ensued in which she pushed him and left him having to put clothes on over his pyjamas.

Mr McCloud was able to get out and into his Land Rover but she tried to stop him "breaking off the window wipers and hitting him with them".

Police at Mace Road, Bradwell (Image: Newsquest)As he drove off Kershaw "got on the bonnet" but she fell off and he was able to get away.

But the victim returned soon after to pick up some other items from her Vauxhall Zafira car.

Mr McCloud moved her car out of the way to prevent her from driving as she had been drinking but when he returned to his Land Rover found Kershaw "laying across" the front seats.

Mr Morgans said he tried to get her out of the car but felt "blows to his body".

He said it was at that point he saw "she had a knife in her hand".

Kershaw swung at Mr McCloud again but he put his arms up to block her but "felt pain".

Mr Morgans said: "He realised it was not the first injury and sees his chest covered in blood."

He fell to the floor but neighbours, who had already called police, came out to assist as officers arrived.

Marquita Kershaw (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)Kershaw was arrested at the scene following the incident, which happened at about 10.44pm on November 10 2022.

Mr Morgans said the victim, who was taken to hospital, suffered a stab wound "deep enough to have grazed his liver".

Kershaw appeared in court on Thursday having previously admitted unlawful wounding at the start of her trial in November last year.

Recorder David Brooke said it was a "bad offence" resulting from a "toxic" relationship after they had both been drinking.

He told Kershaw she was "truly lucky this didn't end another way" and said "you could've killed him".

But he accepted she had acted "recklessly" in inflicting the injuries, which he insisted were "not insignificant".

In passing an 18-month sentence, suspended for two years, Recorder Brooke said it was "by a whisker" that he had pulled back from imposing an immediate custodial sentence.

Mace Road, Bradwell (Image: Newsquest)Will Carter, mitigating, said there was "significant violence" used by Mr McCloud towards Kershaw, to the extent neighbours were "concerned" for her safety.

He said she had taken the knife with her, not to stab the victim, but to slash the tyres of his car and immobilise the vehicle.

Mr Carter insisted the knife only got used because it was in her hand.

He conceded it was a "reckless act" and that she "has to accept that if you have a knife in your hand and punch out and you stab someone you're guilty of unlawful wounding.

The barrister said none of Mr McCloud's injuries were either life-threatening or irreversible.

Mr Carter said Kershaw lives with three of her children, aged 19, 14 and nine, and holds the tenancy of the property but was told last week she would be evicted if she was jailed.

It would mean her children would lose their home.

Kershaw was also banned from contacting the victim, until further order,

She must also complete 25 days Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR), a mental health treatment requirement for 12 months and an alcohol abstinence monitoring programme.