A woman suffering from a "psychopathic disorder" who stabbed a man to death is starting a life sentence today.

Kathleen Carey, 57, will have to serve at least ten years in custody for murdering Tony Jenkins at his Risca flat last year, before becoming eligible for parole.

Her housemate Paul Lewis, 55, was jailed for five years for his part in the killing.

The pair, both formerly of Elm Drive, Risca, were convicted of killing the 46-year-old former coal miner, at his Holly Road flat, by a jury after a two-week trial at Cardiff crown court last month.

Carey was found guilty of murder and Lewis was cleared of murder but found guilty of manslaughter.

Mr Jenkins, known to his friends as 'Scrumpo' was left to die by the pair after being knifed 18 times to the head, torso, arms and legs.

During the trial, prosecutor, Ian Murphy, QC, told the jury: "The defendants were alone with Tony Jenkins in his flat for some 50 minutes and the prosecution say they left the flat together after beating, stabbing him and slashing him, probably with a knife."

The court heard violence erupted between the three when a fight broke out between Mr Jenkins and Lewis over cannabis last May.

The jury heard the three had been drinking on the night of the attack before Carey began stabbing him with the blade.

David Aubrey, QC, mitigating for Carey, said his client had suffered from serious psychiatric illnesses for 37 years or more which must have lowered her degree of culpability. The court heard yesterday how she has a previous conviction for possessing an offensive weapon in public from August 2000.

It was told she had brandished two kitchen knives at a housing estate in Gilfach, Bargoed, threatening two dogs and abusing police officers when they arrived and warned her to calm down.

Peter Murphy, QC, mitigating for Lewis said his client was a former engineer who worked in the aerospace industry before he had suffered a breakdown.

Lewis, he said, had been made redundant after suffering from psychotic illnesses and "drifted into alcoholism".

Sentencing Lewis, the Recorder of Cardiff, Judge John Griffith Williams, QC, said he had shown "no remorse" for the killing.

Carey was sentenced in her absence with her consent because, the court heard, she was in a "very distressed" state.

The judge said she was suffering from a "severe personality disorder amounting to a psychopathic disorder."

He added that although this did not diminish her responsibility for murdering Mr Jenkins, it should be taken into account.