Mum stayed up all night drinking vodka then stabbed her boyfriend in the neck

Catherine Livesey
-Credit: (Image: Merseyside Police)


A mum stayed up all night drinking vodka before stabbing her boyfriend in the neck after being "pushed to her limits". Catherine Livesey struck out at her partner with the knife in self-defence during a furious row in the early hours, having been subjected to a barrage of racist abuse.

The care worker was said to have armed herself with the weapon after he raised her fists and "lunged at her". The court heard she had previously experienced domestic violence at his hands. She then called the police and told them what she had done after he fled the scene with injuries including a punctured lung.

Liverpool Crown Court heard this afternoon, Tuesday, that Livesey had been in a relationship with Alan Golding for around three years when the couple visited his cousin Kelly Mangan's flat on Brook Street in Whiston on the afternoon of April 26 this year. The three subsequently consumed four bottles of vodka during the course of the evening.

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Kate Morley, prosecuting, described how the defendant and Mr Golding then began to argue and "call each other names" at around 6am. This included him being "racially abusive and nasty" towards Livesey.

The row ultimately turned violent roughly an hour later, with punches being exchanged between the two parties. Mr Golding then began throwing objects around the room, causing damage to a door.

He went on to approach Livesey with his fists clenched. The 50-year-old, of no fixed address, responded by arming herself with a knife as Ms Mangan pleaded: "Cathy, don't."

She refused this request however, instead raising the knife above her head and stabbing Mr Golding to the neck. He "immediately began to bleed heavily" and left the address, but returned a short time later.

They later began fighting again, with Livesey punching the complainant to the mouth while he was "striking back at her" - leaving him with a cut lip. She called the police herself after he exited the property once more, telling officers who attended the scene that she had "hurt Mr Golding and that the knife was inside".

This small kitchen knife was thereafter recovered with dried blood on the blade. PCs then located her boyfriend a short distance away, after which he was taken to hospital via ambulance.

Mr Golding was said to have suffered a "nick to the neck" during the altercation, as well as a wound to the left of his chest which caused a collapsed lung. However, Livesey was only ultimately prosecuted on the basis that she had caused the former injury.

She maintains that she "believed she was about to be attacked" after Mr Golding had "lunged towards her", at which stage she took hold of the knife and "swiped in front of her". Her only previous convictions came in 2008 for offences of criminal damage.

Bernice Campbell, defending, told the court that her client had spent six months on remand in HMP Styal since the incident. She added: "It is out of character that she is in court and that this has happened.

"She has been pushed to her limits. She has been subjected to domestic violence for some time at the hands of the now victim. Under the influence of alcohol and being called a fat [racial slur], which was repeatedly said to her throughout her relationship with the victim, she could take no more.

"Perhaps with hindsight and a sober mind, she could have walked away. He lunged at her, she took hold of the knife which had been taken into the living room by the victim and struck out at him.

"She is vulnerable and alone to a certain degree. She has always been a delightful woman when I have spoken to her. References back this up and, I hope, support what I am saying.

"Her time in custody has been well spent. It has been sobering in many ways. She wants to move forward when she is released. Anything less than 12 months custody would see her released today.

"She wants to get a restraining order against the victim. One might think he is culpable for assaulting himself and saying he had not done it, but he has not been prosecuted. She wants a fresh start in life and to put this behind her."

Livesey admitted wounding without intent. She was handed an eight month prison sentence, meaning that she will be released from custody imminently.

Sentencing, Judge Katherine Pierpoint said: "The prosecution accept that he was abusive to you. He was nasty and making abusive comments to you. There was an exchange of punches.

"I am sure that you were affected by alcohol. There were clearly times where he had lost his temper and been throwing things around the room. He then raised his fists to you.

"You should have walked away. However, affected by drink, you picked up the knife and slashed out towards him. You have accepted by your plea that this was excessive self-defence.

"Luckily, that injury has not been particularly serious. It is a matter of luck rather than design that the injury was not more serious with longer lasting consequences to him, or worse.

"That is why the courts view very seriously offending involving the use of a knife. Very sadly, we see people in these courts facing much more serious charges for one action of lashing out with a knife.

"It is a great shame to see somebody such as yourself before the courts, having spent six months in Styal prison. Apart from minor matters in 2008, you have never been in trouble before.

"You are somebody who has positive good character. You are somebody who has worked extremely hard. It is quite clear that you are extremely well viewed by those who have worked with you.

"You are described as someone who is kind, compassionate and who has gone above and beyond over the years for those who you have cared for. It may well be that you will not be able to work in that field again. I do accept that this was behaviour that was out of character for you.

"I am sure that we will not see you back before these courts, but, if we do, you will find yourself serving longer and longer sentences. I hope you can now put this behind you."