A 49-year-old woman has been cleared of wounding her fiance at his home.

Jackie Hurn, of Ordnance Terrace, Chatham, had been held in custody after she stabbed Nigel Watson on April 11 this year.

But prosecutor Andrew Forsyth said no evidence was being offered because Mr Watson had not provided a statement and self-defence would have to be disproved.

Mr Forsyth told Maidstone Crown Court Mr Watson, 48, suffered a knife wound to his back at his house in Hayle Road, Maidstone.

He was airlifted to London’s Kings College Hospital but has since recovered.

Hurn was treated at Maidstone Hospital for bruising to her head and body and cuts to her fingers.

Mr Watson was also arrested but later released without charge.

Toby Borrough, defending at an earlier magistrates’ court hearing, said Hurn had acted in self-defence against a man with a history of domestic violence.

Applying for a restraining order banning Hurn from contacting her former partner, Mr Forsyth said: “On any view he received a knife wound to his back, and in the context of this incident. She has sent letters to Mr Watson while she has been in custody.

“There is nothing sinister in that at all but to show a keen desire to continue the relationship. We have further instructions from him that he doesn’t.”

Mr Forsyth asked for the order to stay in place for five years.

But Peter Alcock, defending, said Hurn also had no desire to continue the relationship.

Judge Richard Polden said he could see there were “evidential difficulties” in the case.

He entered not guilty verdicts to wounding with intent and an alternative charge of unlawful wounding.

Refusing the application for a restraining order, he added: “I have come to the conclusion it is not necessary to protect Mr Watson from harassment by making an order in this case.”