A woman who left a man with serious injuries in a knife attack on the streets of Newcastle has been jailed for more than 12 years.
Julie McAllister and her partner Candice Tote went looking for the victim, later making various unsubstantiated allegations as to motive, including that he was trying to get Tote to work as a prostitute for him.
When they came upon him on Shields Road, Byker, McAllister launched a determined attack with a knife, leaving him close to death. She was also slashed across the stomach by the victim during the terrifying scenes, during which she was supported by Tote, who also had a knife but didn't use any violence.
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Newcastle Crown Court heard the offence happened on November 12 last year. The couple had been driven to his home as they looked for him but he was not there.
They then saw him standing on Shields Road and McAllister, having confirmed his identity, pulled out a large kitchen knife from behind her back. Recorder Brian Whitehead said: "You swung the knife at him and he deflected it using his arm.
"You lunged at him twice more and he tried to defend himself. A bystander intervened by knocking you over. Candice Tote, you brandished your knife in support of McAllister and the bystander knocked you away too.
"Unfortunately that was not the end of the incident because the footage shows, 50 seconds later, you, McAllister, again swiping at the victim, who had his back to a shop. He grappled you to the ground, took the knife off you and slashed you across the stomach.
"You, Tote, then returned to the car, retrieved your knife and returned to the scene, brandishing it. McAllister took it from you then a further attack ensued."
The police then arrived and McAllister posted the knife through a letterbox and they left the scene.
The victim was rushed to hospital and was found to have stab wounds, rib fractures, bruising to his lung and suspected bleeding into his abdomen. His blood pressure and oxygen saturation levels were unrecordable and he was given a blood transfusion and a chest drain.
He was taken to intensive care and developed a chest infection and was not released until December 5.
The judge said: "It's clear to me the attack was carefully planned. I find it fanciful that this was anything other than a planned attack.
"It was also prolonged. You, McAllister, were determined to keep on attacking him until either you were stopped or he was seriously injured or worse.
"This caused life-threatening injuries - I think he may have been quite close to death. It was a knife fight in public which is rather chilling to observe.
"You have suggested he was a paedophile or involved in the sexual exploitation of Candice Tote or was a drug dealer. I've had no evidence in support of these allegations whatsoever."
McAllister, 44, of Bollingbroke Street, Byker, Newcastle, who has 27 previous convictions, including for violence, possessing a firearm with intent and arson, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and was jailed for 12-and-a-half years with an extended licence period of a further four years.
Tote, 47, of Westgate Road, Newcastle, who, who has 101 previous convictions, mainly for dishonesty, admitted threatening another with a blade and affray and was sentenced to 21 months suspended for two years.
The couple, who were in separate rooms for most of the hearing on a video-link from prison, were in the same room at the end and hugged and kissed as they were sentenced.
Lorraine Mustard, for McAllister, said she'd had a difficult personal background. She said the victim's partner was living in the same hostel as them and things were being said which led McAllister to fear Tote may come to harm.
Miss Mustard said: "Julie McAllister doesn't wish to minimise the offence and accepts she did go about it the wrong way but she felt she had no alternative. So while the victim was sought out it was not her intention to physically harm him."
David Callan, for Tote, said she has had a "dreadful life", including being encouraged to skip school to go shoplifting and has been the victim of serious crime.
Mr Callan said the victim's partner, on his behalf, had been encouraging her to work for him as a prostitute.
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