Woman in 'mentally abusive relationship' who slashed boyfriend with knife spared jail

'It was by all accounts a pretty toxic relationship,' says judge

The court heard she was an 'intelligent young woman of integrity and charm' (Paul Beard / SWNS)

A 20-year-old who slashed her boyfriend in the face has been spared jail after the judge heard he was "controlling".

Stephanie Roberts cut Ravi Benitez, 19, with a knife when she visited him at university.

Roberts had taken sedative drug Xanax before going out drinking with Mr Benitez and his friends on 24 November last year.

When they returned to Mr Benitez's flat at Warwick University, which he shared with other students, Roberts attacked him with a seven-inch kitchen knife.

Mr Benitez suffered slash wounds before a security guard managed to wrestle the blade out of Roberts' hands.

Roberts, of South Kensington, London, admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The court heard she was an “intelligent young woman of integrity and charm”.

Handing her a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years, the judge at Warwick Crown Court said she was the victim of a mentally abusive relationship.

She was also told to attend rehabilitation and given a restraining order banning her from having any contact with Mr Benitez.

Judge Sylvia de Bertodano said: "It was by all accounts a pretty toxic relationship which involved him providing you with Xanax on a regular basis.

"On this evening on two separate occasions you lunged at him with the knife.

"The first occasion is what caused the damage, and there are two slashes to his face and to his finger when he put his hand up to defend himself.

"It was a very, very dangerous way to behave, because if you take out a knife when you are distressed and angry and have had a lot to drink, you can cause very serious injuries indeed.

"Both he and you are very fortunate you did not do so on this occasion.

"But I have read a great deal about you, and both the prosecution and the defence accept I must sentence you according to your basis of plea which makes clear you had for some time been the victim of a mentally abusive relationship.

"Your circumstances had pushed you to the limit, and the combination of drink and drugs that had been supplied to you by him that night were sufficient to push you over the edge."

Prosecutor Steven Bailey said: "The incident goes back a year.

"The two parties had known each other for some time, and she said he was controlling and gave her prescription drugs, Xanax."

Back at the flat Mr Benitez took Roberts to a bedroom where she was to spend the night, before going to his own room.

Roberts was in "a high emotional state," and wanted to call her father, but her phone was not working, so Mr Benitez gave her his phone.

As she called her father, asking him to come and pick her up, she armed herself with a large red-handled kitchen knife and began to kick and slash at Mr Benitez's door.

One of his flatmates called security, and when officers arrived they saw blood on the walls from a cut to Roberts' thumb, and broken glass on the floor.

The court heard Roberts pointed the knife at Mr Benitez before telling him: "I'd rather kill the person who's f****ed me up the most - you. I know perfectly well what I'm doing."

She then called her father, telling him: "You need to get me before I kill him, you need to get me right now.

"You come here right now, or it's the end."

Mr Benitez pleaded with her: "Oh please, Steph, please go away."

The court heard a security guard was recorded on his bodycam pleading with Roberts to drop the knife, telling her: "You'll make it a hell of a lot worse."

Continuing to speak to her father, Roberts told him: "I'm not putting anything down until you come and get me. Come and get me right now. I will kill Ravi, OK?"

She then lunged at Mr Benitez slashing his face and to his hand as he tried to protect himself, telling him: "You liar, you liar. You lied to me, you liar."

She then changed her grip to what Mr Bailey described as "the classic stabbing grip," and lunged across the bed at Mr Benitez's chest, but did not make contact.

At that point the security officers rushed forward and overpowered and disarmed her.

Mr Benitez suffered deep stab wounds to his cheek and index finger, and a cut to his nose.

Adam Western, defending, said: "She had been subject to controlling behaviour and isolated from her friends.

"She says he manipulated her entirely.

"She is described as an intelligent young woman of integrity and charm."