A GREENOCK woman struck her partner with a knife following a night out to celebrate his 50th birthday — and left him needing five stitches.

Elaine Maxwell lashed out at the man in a 3am rage after consuming a 'copious amount' of alcohol, the town's sheriff court was told.

Prosecutor Saud Ul Hassan told how she had grabbed the knife from her kitchen and brandished it at the man before attacking him with it in the early hours of March 18.

Maxwell, 46, stated to police: "Is he trying to say I stabbed him? It would have been through the heart if I stabbed him."

Fiscal depute Mr Ul Hassan told the court: "She jabbed at the witness with the handle of the knife, catching him on the left of his head and on his hairline."

"He put his hand up to protect himself."

The court heard how the blow left Maxwell's partner of 23 years with a '2cm laceration' and that she had also 'lunged' at him and scratched him with her nails on his face and neck.

Mr Ul Hassan said: "The accused called 999 and stated that the witness was refusing to leave.

"She said, 'I have a knife on me'.

"Police attended and observed a 2cm laceration to the left of the witness's head and a small cut to the left of his face and neck.

"The accused was spoken to and stated, 'I was taught to fight with my hands; is he trying to say I stabbed him? It would be through the heart if I stabbed him. That was my nails'.

"The witness received five stitches to the left of his head."

Defence lawyer Edel McGinty passed a letter to Sheriff Derek Hamilton which had been written by Maxwell's partner.

Miss McGinty said: "It is not lost on her the serious nature of the charge, even though this is her first offence.

"Copious amounts of alcohol had been taken.

"She deeply regrets her behaviour and has pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity."

Miss McGinty added: "The knife was not used in the manner that a knife would normally be used.

"She is fully prepared to engage with any community-based disposal your Lordship may impose."

Sheriff Hamilton told Maxwell: "If you are not already aware, the court takes knife crime extremely seriously.

"Where you take a knife into an argument there is potential to cause serious harm, and often tragedy.

"A strict approach has to be taken towards people who are prepared to lift knives.

"You have not offended before and I am prepared to deal with this matter in a non-custodial way, but this will be as an alternative to custody."

Maxwell, of Carwood Street, was ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work within 12 months and also placed on supervision for the same period.