by Keith Hunt

A woman once told by a judge she acted like an "over-the-hill slapper" has been jailed for three years four months for a vicious knife attack on her boyfriend.

When accused of attempted murder, Lorraine Hallett replied: "What the f---. Eight years too late. I hope he's dead. I hope I killed him."

Despite suffering wounds, victim Paul Hayes refused to support the prosecution or allow his medical records to be released.

Hallett, of Neville Road, Herne Bay, denied attempted murder and her guilty plea to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm was accepted.

Maidstone Crown Court heard a friend of the couple, Natalie Brown, met them by chance on Herne Bay seafront on the afternoon of February 17 this year.

Miss Brown later said she knew the relationship was volatile because of their addiction to Class A drugs.

Lucy Luttman, prosecuting, said Hallett, 40, and Mr Hayes asked if they could "score" some heroin. Miss Brown refused.

The couple argued and Miss Brown noticed Mr Hayes, also 40, had a clump of hair missing. Hallett admitted she had ripped it out.

Hallett and Mr Hayes later went to Miss Brown's flat in Central Parade around midnight. They were drunk and arguing.

They went into a bedroom and shortly afterwards Miss Brown heard Mr Hayes say: "She stabbed me."

Miss Brown ran into the bedroom and saw the victim lying on the bed with blood "pulsating" out of him.

"She looked up and saw Lorraine Hallett standing over her partner with a knife in her hand, raised above her head," said the prosecutor.

Miss Brown pushed her away and stood between her and Mr Hayes. Hallett was shouting: "I am going to kill you."

By the time police arrived she had removed her clothes to get rid of forensic evidence. She faked an epileptic fit.

Mr Hayes, of London Road, Canterbury, told officers he was assaulted by "two blokes on the seafront". He was taken to hospital with wounds to his chest, arms and back.

Hallett later told police: "It is bad, isn't it? I am sorry. I am going to Bronzefield (Prison) for 10 years. Can I say goodbye to him?"

As she was taken away, Mr Hayes shouted: "I love you."

Hallett was in May 2008 one of three women told by a judge they behaved like a "bunch of over-the-hill slappers" by robbing an alcoholic of his wallet.

Judge Timothy Nash said they were disgraceful and influenced by alcohol when they attacked James McCable, then 31, at a homeless centre by Canterbury East station.

Hallett, Melanie Coombs, then 39, of no fixed address, and Alison Raines, then 41, of Ladysmith Grove, Whitstable, were each jailed for three years.

During the robbery, Hallett punched the victim several times.

Judge Nash, who has since retired, was later criticised by the Court of Appeal in London for his description of the three women.

The court heard this week that Hallett had 24 convictions for 51 offences, mostly for dishonesty.