A Lanarkshire man stabbed his wife of 40 years after warning her "you're dying tonight".
Peter McDowell twice lunged at his spouse's neck with a steak knife, but missed each time.
Airdrie Sheriff Court heard she suffered minor cuts to her fingers as she tried to defend herself.
McDowell, 62, admitted assaulting his wife at their home in Hyslop Street, Airdrie, on August 12, 2020.
On the night of the stabbing they were celebrating their birthdays with a friend who had brought them gifts.
Violence flared out of the blue after the friend left the couple's home around 1.15am.
Lauren Cole, prosecuting, told the court: "Without warning, the accused stood up and said, 'I'm going to stab you', to his wife.
"He went into the kitchen and returned with a steak knife.
"His wife, who was sitting on the couch, believed he was joking and told him to 'f**k off'. He replied, 'you're dying tonight. I'm going to cut your fingers and your throat'.
"He lashed out with the knife, aiming for the left side of her neck but missing and striking the couch. He then tried to strike the right side of her neck and again missed, puncturing the couch."
McDowell, now of Gartlea Avenue, Airdrie, placed the blade against his wife's neck and said, 'how easy it would be to slit your throat'.
The woman then put up her left hand to defend herself and the accused slashed her fingers with the knife.
The fiscal added: "This caused superficial injuries. She then kicked him twice in the groin and ran to a neighbour's house.
"The neighbour contacted the police and officers arrived to find McDowell seated on the couch with the knife next to him."
McDowell was arrested but was then taken to hospital, complaining of chest pains. Doctors later gave him the all-clear.
Defence agent Tony Linden said McDowell underwent heart surgery two months before the stabbing.
The solicitor explained: "He was on medication and compounded the situation by drinking alcohol.
"Much of what happened is a blur to him. It was entirely out of character."
Sheriff Petra Collins deferred sentence until next month for a criminal justice social work report. McDowell had his bail continued.
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