A man who stabbed his partner to death after she threw a piece of broccoli at him has been jailed for five years.

Alexander Kelly, 60, knifed long-term girlfriend Yvonne Barlow, 44, in the chest at their home in Britannia Close, Clapham in January this year after a row about their pet puppy.

Kelly denied murder and claimed he had lashed out when Miss Barlow threw food at him from his plate, but was found guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter at the Old Bailey.

Miss Barlow bled to death after the knife wound pierced both of her lungs.

Earlier the court heard the pair, who enjoyed a “stormy relationship”, begun rowing after Kelly slapped the couple's new puppy because it had messed the floor.

Ms Barlow was waiting for her son to collect her and take her to her mum's house when she was attacked.

Kelly refused to let the son in, but when police arrived told them: “I was eating my dinner. She didn't want to stay. She put her hand on my plate and threw my dinner at me. I just lunged at her.”

When police entered they found Kelly covered in blood in the lounge and the victim slumped in a chair.

Kelly, who broke down in police custody when officers informed him his partner was dead, later said in a statement: “I arrived home last night after watching the football and Yvonne stated my dinner was in the kitchen and I warmed it up.

“We bought a puppy dog a few days ago and it had made a mess on the floor so I gave it a smack.

“Yvonne came downstairs and we argued about smacking the dog. I suggested she go back to her mother's and she rang her son to pick her up.

“She grabbed my phone and tried to take the SIM out of it.

“I managed to get the phone back and put it in my pocket. I sat back down to eat with my knife and fork in my hand.

“She grabbed the food on my plate. I stood up and lashed out with my hand. I forgot I had the knife in my hand at the time and so I stabbed her through the chest.

“I didn't mean to stab her, I'm very sorry.”

When police searched the couple's front room they found the knife used in the stabbing next to the plate of food and pieces of broccoli on the table.