by Paul Hooper

A Margate man has been jailed for four-and-a-half years after stabbing his wife in their home while their children were upstairs.

Gary Peterson, 40, had been found guilty by a jury of wounding wife Samantha at her home in Westgate-on-Sea.

Mrs Peterson - who was at Canterbury Crown Court for the hearing - told detectives she had not forgiven her jealous husband for the unprovoked attack.

Judge Adele Williams told how Peterson, of Fort Hill, had gone to his estranged wife's home in defiance of a bail condition which followed another earlier assault.

"You were separated but you were consumed with jealousy and determined to find out the name of her new partner."

While the couple's three children were upstairs, Peterson stabbed Samantha twice - leaving her bleeding.

"All the children had to listen to the violence and traumatic events which took place. You stabbed her in the abdomen twice - and she was admitted hospital where she underwent an operation."

The judge said Samantha's Victim Impact Statement showed "the trauma that she has suffered both physical and psychological as a result of your actions."

The court heard that one of the couple's children bravely escaped through a window to summon help - while the callous Peterson then attempted to humiliate his wife as ambulance and police officers were on their way.

"You were under the influence of alcohol - and, in my judgement, you have shown no true remorse. You are self-absorbed and self obsessed. You think of nothing but your own self interests."

Love-cheat Peterson, who had denied a more serious charge of attempting to murder his wife and had been acquitted by a jury, had a history of alcohol abuse which had wrecked their 11-year marriage.

Mrs Peterson told the jury how he had become aggressive - and had begun making secret phone calls to a lover.

When their relationship ended, he became obsessed that she had a new partner.

She told the court: "I did love him but I found it hard to cope with him having an affair and he lied. I thought if he stopped drinking maybe things would be better. If he hadn't cheated on me...things would have been very different."

After the hearing, the case officer, Detective Inspector Chris Carter said Peterson had used "despicable violence" which had left Mrs Peterson and her children traumatised.

He said Mrs Peterson had been left with scars after the unprovoked attack - and Peterson's callousness had forced their children to give evidence at the trial.