Man admits stabbing heavily pregnant girlfriend in Northgate
By Chris Ballinger
A MAN has admitted stabbing his pregnant partner, leaving her with life-threatening injuries.
Shahid Mahmood appeared at court last Friday accused of attempting to murder Stacey Clarke, and facing another charge of wounding her with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
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Stacey Clarke was stabbed in the property on the right
The 25-year-old pleaded not guilty to attempted murder but guilty to wounding with intent, after psychiatric reports declared him fit to enter a plea to the charges.
Mahmood was arrested hours after Miss Clarke, 23, suffered life-threatening injuries at a house in The Parade, Northgate, in May.
An ambulance and police were called to the home in the early hours of May 27 where she was found with two stab wounds to her neck and two to her upper body.
Miss Clarke, who was six-and-a-half-months pregnant at the time of the incident, was rushed to hospital where she underwent an operation and spent time in the intensive care unit before being released. Her unborn child escaped unharmed.
Mahmood, a labourer, faced a separate charge of possession of heroin in March, which he denied. Prosecutors will wait until after sentencing to decide if that charge will be pursued.
The defendant, who lives in The Parade, will be sentenced for the charge of wounding with intent while prosecutors are prepared to allow the attempted murder count to lie on file.
Robert Fortune, defending at Hove Crown Court, asked for an adjournment to allow further psychiatric reports to be carried out.
Mahmood will remain in the care of doctors until his next appearance at the same court on December 21.
