A DESPERATE husband who stabbed his chronically-ill wife after devoting his life to her care was spared jail today.

Anthony Murray, 65, plunged the knife into the chest of 64-year-old Margaret as she lay in bed after telling her he could not cope any longer.

Fortunately the blade missed her vital organs and she was able to call an ambulance.

The couple, of Portway Gardens, Shooters Hill, had been happily married for 35 years and had two children and two grandchildren, Murray began suffering from depression 20 years ago which gradually became worse as his wife developed chronic arthritis and Parkinson's Disease.

Mrs Murray survived the attack on February 1 and is now in a care home while her husband is being treated in a mental hospital.

The Old Bailey heard Murray had tried to kill himself three times.

Murray had admitted unlawful wounding after the Crown agreed to drop the charge of attempted murder.