A FATHER-of-two stabbed his partner with a potato-peeler and said "it went into her like butter" a court heard.

Ricky Hardiman, 23, pleaded guilty at Salisbury Magistrates Court on Friday (January 27) to battery, criminal damage, and assault causing actual bodily harm.

On the night of December 09, he been peeling the vegetables in Tina Butler's kitchen when they began to argue.

He then walked into the lounge where she was sat, with the knife still in his hands.

Ms Butler asked Hardiman if he was going to stab her, before he poked her in the leg with the knife.

It was only when she stood up that Ms Butler realised that she was in pain, and it took 20 minutes to stop the bleeding.

The court heard that the couple had a strained relationship, with Ms Butler describing it as "rubbish".

They had been together since the age of 12 and, after the birth of their first child, the relationship had begun to deteriorate, the court heard.

On October 15, Hardiman had punched her in the ear and mouth, resulting in swelling and a cut to her lip, before walking to the airing cupboard and ripping up some of her clothes.

Prosecuting, Kate Prince said that Ms Butler had been shouting and swearing at him to get out of the house, and was fed up with the way she was treated.

On the second occasion, he did leave the house, and after he was arrested he told officers that he did not mean to stab her in the leg.

Ann Ellery, defending Hardiman, told the court that her client had been foolish, and said that he struggled to control his behaviour.

But she added that the injury caused by the knife was less serious than the offence, and it was only in his hands because he was peeling the potatoes.

Magistrate Linda Raine said it was a very serious matter, especially when children were present, and advised the 23-year-old to buy Ms Butler some new clothes and some flowers.

Hardiman, of Yarmley Lane, Winterslow, was sentenced to four months imprisonment, suspended for 18, and must pay £200 court costs.