Claire Bridger accepted that she had attacked Keith Bridger, with whom she had been in a relationship for almost 40 years, with a kitchen knife in the driveway of his new home, leaving him with life-threatening injuries.

Claire Bridger (Image: Facebook)

But the mother-of-two had denied a charge of attempted murder and a Norwich Crown Court jury - which heard she could have suffered the amnesia due to a combination of distress and alcohol - took just two hours and 34 minutes to clear her unanimously after a five-day trial.

However, the 64-year-old, who worked as a school nurse, had earlier admitted wounding Mr Bridger which intent to do him grievous bodily harm and was remanded in custody until her sentencing on March 20.

Keith Bridger with dog (Image: Facebook)

Her trial was told the couple, who have two daughters, had been together for 37 years and married for 30 years.

They took on a rescue dog in 2020, just before the start of the coronavirus lockdown, and another around a year later.

A dog belonging to Claire and Keith Bridger (Image: Facebook)

However, the couple split up after Mr Bridger suddenly announced he was leaving her as they ate breakfast with their two daughters on April 27 last year.

He then moved out of the family home in Taverham to a rented property in Bramerton, on the other side of Norwich.

The couple's dachshunds, which came from a rescue home (Image: Supplied)

Bridger initially kept the two rescue dogs - which were said to be "quite noisy" and "quite bitey" and have "behavioural issues" - but she handed them over to Mr Bridger to look after when she went to stay for a week with her sister and niece in London.

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