A WOMAN lashed out at a man's face with a Stanley knife, leaving him needing 22 stitches.

Margaret Mellelieu's victim John Squire has been left scarred following the attack, Preston Crown Court was told.

Mellelieu, 45, of Maudsley Street, Accrington, was told by a judge at the court that it was a "grave offence of violence".

She was given a 12-month jail term, suspended for two years, with 12 months supervision by the Probation Service.

Mellelieu had pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding following the incident in July last year.

The court was told that Mr Squire was cut on the cheek when she lashed out with the knife following an argument.

Mellelieu was said to be drunk and, according to Wayne Goldstein, defending, had been through a "rough time" in the past couple of years.

He said: "The offence was totally out of character."

Mr Goldstein added that she had difficulty coping with stress and seemed to use alcohol to overcome problems.