A 42 year old woman from Barnoldswick has today been sentenced to three years and four months in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter.

Susan Phillipson, of Skipton Road, admitted killing her ex-partner David Smith at an earlier hearing at Preston Crown Court on 27th November 2007. Mr Smith was found with serious injuries at an address on Skipton Road on Friday 21 September 2007 after police were called to a report of a male having been stabbed.

He had been in a five year relationship with Susan Phillipson, which had come to an end some months previously. On that Friday in September David had returned home following a training course. Both he and Phillipson were present in the address and he had been preparing dinner.

Susan Phillipson had been drinking during the daytime and began to argue with David regarding financial matters and he placed a 15inch kitchen knife to his chest.

During police interviews Phillipson admitted pushing the knife into David's chest, causing a single fatal wound that penetrated the heart. The ambulance service was called and first aid was administrated at the scene, sadly, Mr Smith later died at Burnley General Hospital. A post mortem revealed he died as a result of a single fatal stab wound to the heart.

Mr Smith, 35, was a serving Police Constable with the Ministry of Defence Police based at RAF Menwith Hill, North Yorkshire. He was off duty at the time. Detective Inspector Jo Edwards, who led the investigation, said: "This is a tragic case whereby a momentary action has lead to the death of a young man.

"David Smith was a dedicated officer within the Ministry of Defence Police and will be sadly missed by family and colleagues.

"This has been a very difficult time for David's family, and although today's result can't change what has happened, I hope they can begin to rebuild their lives and move forward."