An obsessed student stabbed the woman she believed to be her ex-girlfriend's new partner after confronting them outside a Smithdown Road nail bar.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that catering student Hanushika Hersilia could not accept the break-up of her relationship with ex-girlfriend Chantelle Wellington.
On December 4 last year, Hersilia spotted Chantelle outside the nail bar with a woman whom she believed to be in a new relationship with.
Ken Grant, prosecuting, said: "Miss Wellington had complained of being harassed with texts, calls and emails from this defendant.
"She had started a relationship with the victim of this offence. On the day in question, the defendant turned up at the nail bar, and an altercation ensued between her and Miss Wellington.
"The victim, Nawal Khasal, tried to intervene and calm things down, which ended up with her being inflicted with a stab wound."
Miss Khasal was rushed to Aintree trauma unit with a single stab wound to the left side of her chest. Fortunately she suffered no internal injuries and she was discharged later the same evening.
When police attended Hersilia's home address in Bethel Grove, Wavertree , officers recovered the knife from a suitcase in her bedroom.
Mr Grant added: "She admitted having a knife and using it, but she was not aware the knife had penetrated and caused any injuries.
"She said she was at college training to be a chef and had forgotten she'd put the cooking knife into her pocket."
Peter Hunter, defending 23-year-old Hersilia, said: "She's extremely disappointed in herself and ashamed of her behaviour.
"She understands the harm she's caused to this person and wants to assure the court it will never happen again."
Mr Hunter said his client was only 5ft 1ins in height, and the stigma attached to her coming out as a black gay woman had been "devastating."
Hersilia had pleaded not guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, but changed her plea to guilty for the lesser charge of unlawful wounding. She also pleaded guilty to having a bladed weapon or knife in a public place.
She appeared by videolink from HMP Styal and broke down in tears during the judge's sentencing remarks.
Judge Stuart Driver QC told her: "The worst feature of it was to put that sharp knife into another woman, which was a very, very dangerous act.
"It might have caused serious injury and it was mere luck that it did not."
The judge said the case was aggravated by the use of violence, and that it happened in a public street. Hersilia had also falsely alleged that the victim had attacked her.
He sentenced Hersilia to 27 months' imprisonment, of which she must serve half before she is released on licence.
