A WOMAN with a grievance against her step father stabbed him twice after trying to force him to make a "confession".

Victim Barry Whittaker suffered knife wounds to the chest and back during a morning attack at his home. His life was only saved by skilled medical intervention, a judge said in passing sentence at Preston Crown Court.

The court heard that Pauline Goodfellow had not expressed remorse. She was jailed for four years.

The 42-year-old mum of St Catherine's Court, Lancaster, had pleaded guilty to offences of wounding with intent and the theft of two credit cards, belonging to her mother.

There had been considerable animosity over a number of years. The source of the ill feeling was allegations of sexual abuse made by the defendant about Mr Whittaker, said Mr Richard Simons, prosecuting.

The complaints had been made known to the police. Goodfellow had suffered mental health problems and for around a year prior to the offences in June had expressed a desire to harm Mr Whittaker and his wife.

The threats were not taken seriously as her mental health was known and she had not acted violently before.

The defendant took a taxi to the address in Johnson Close on June 21, providing the driver with her mobile phone number. This was so he could ring The Citizen newspaper if he saw substantial police activity as she suggested they were the only people she would trust.

Goodfellow appeared agitated and was shaking on arriving at the Whittaker's home. While he was waiting for the kettle to boil he was stabbed in the back and then the chest.

She then made a number of phone calls, ringing her sister to say he had "got away with it for too long and she had stabbed him".

The defendant told police when charged: "I didn't intend to kill Barry Whittaker. I only intended to cause him pain".

Miss Sharon Watson, defending, said Goodfellow had had a complicated and turbulent relationship with her mother and step father. She had a documented history of mental illness.

She had been diagnosed as having varying forms and degrees of mental illness. There had been a number of suicide attempts, including jumping from a first floor window.

"It is accepted all the matters have been investigated and a decision taken not to prosecute. She was shouldering the weight of years of resentment and frustration and distress at the time. Her intention was to extract a confession. She denies in any way it was her intention to kill him."

Miss Watson added that Goodfellow had not been able to reach a position where she could express remorse. "She feels it would be hypocritical of her to do so."

Passing sentence, Judge Peter Openshaw QC, said that she had harboured increasing resentment against her step father. She was bound to pose a danger to the Whittakers for some time to come.

"You have expressed and do express no remorse whatsoever. The sentence of the court must plainly demonstrate those who take the law into their own hands do so at their own peril."