AN ALCOHOLIC lesbian, who stabbed her lover to death when she refused to go to bed with her, grinned as she was jailed for six years at the Old Bailey.

Mother-of-two Maria Canty, aged 37, of George Lane, Hither Green, plunged a kitchen knife into Liz Owens, then demonstrated the killing to friends, the court heard.

She told friends: I stabbed her. You wouldnt believe the amount of claret.

Canty, who denied murder but admitted manslaughter due to diminished responsibility, leant over the dock and grinned at officers in the case as she was led away.

The court was told Canty suffered from the disease of alcoholism, twinned with a personality disorder.

Canty was living in George Lane with 35-year-old Miss Owens, who was also an alcoholic and had a teenage daughter.

On May 31 last year, after collecting her Giro, Canty drank two pints of lager and some vodka before returning home.

Nicholas Hilliard, prosecuting, said: The defendant wanted to go to bed with her. Miss Owens refused, saying she never wanted to have sex with her again and she was going to live with her mother.

Cantys uncle, Kevin Canty, who lived with the couple, said they went into the bedroom.

Minutes later, Miss Owens staggered into the living room covered in blood.

Canty joined drinkers in Hither Green Lane and prodded their shoulders as she demonstrated the killing.

Paramedics failed to resuscitate Miss Owens, who had a stab wound to her armpit measuring eight centimetres and was four times over the legal drink-drive limit.

Canty, who has previous convictions for assault and a public order offence, was restrained by three police officers when she was arrested and said she had no recollection of the stabbing.

Nigel Sweeney QC, defending, said: While it will be of little consolation to the family and friends of Liz, the defendant wishes to apologise without reservation and with the deepest sincerity to her family and friends.

Judge Martin Stephens QC said: It is quite clear on all the evidence and information that is before me that when drunk you remain a grave danger to others.