A mother told how she wrestled a claw-hammer from her attacker as blows “rained down on her."

Toni Sullivan, 36, was beaten over the head and arms as she scrambled to protect herself after answering her front door.

Her ex-partner Alexander Weston, 43, appeared at Canterbury Crown Court today charged with attempted murder, following the attack on September 4.

Prosecuting barrister Peter Forbes said: “He went to the house of his former partner.

“He told her one of their young children was in hospital and when her back was turned he attacked her with a claw hammer.

“It struck the back of her head, as she fell another blow (landed) on her eye - he rained other blows down on her which she managed to deflect.

“She kicked out and screamed for help and continued to kick out and pulled the hammer from his hand.

“As soon as she had the hammer he ran away.”

Weston, who sat clenching his jaw as evidence was read, admitted wounding with intent but denied trying to kill the mother of his two children, the court heard.

However, Mr Forbes claimed the attack, which took place shortly after midnight, was attempted murder-suicide.

The victim and defendant’s long term relationship broke down in 2016, the court heard.

Three weeks before the attack Miss Sullivan announced she had found a new partner.

Mr Forbes continued: “In the evening before the attack Toni Sullivan had seen Weston and their children via Face Time – she did not notice any untoward signs.

“His mobile phone later showed he was looking at her Facebook account, he got a cab, the driver noticed he was quiet.

“He was dropped off outside of Vigo. It is apparent he brought a hammer with him.”

Miss Sullivan was woken by loud banging and her phone showed a missed call from Weston.

He continued: “She came down the stairs, the neighbour’s security light came on and she saw Alexander Weston.

“She asked what was going on, he told her their daughter had been taken to hospital, and as she turned to look for her keys and rushed into the house and she felt a heavy blow to the back of the head.

“She described it as feeling like being hit with an iron. Blood ran down her face,” Mr Forbes said.

“I shouted at the top of my voice, ‘please someone he is trying to kill me.'

The court heard Miss Sullivan kicked out and screamed as the blows came down on her, before fighting him off.

“She kicked out at him and pulled the hammer from his hand, as soon as she had the hammer he ran away,” he added.

Sworn in today, the jury of seven women and five men were told the victim immediately locked her door and called 999.

She treated wounds above her left eye and back of the head with kitchen roll until emergency services arrived.

Miss Sullivan, who lives in Croft Side, Vigo, directed police and paramedics to the suspect’s home in Church Fields, West Malling, fearing their children had been killed.

However police found them asleep near what Mr Forbes described as a “suicide note.”

The handwritten message read: “I’m very sorry I have had to go out and leave you. I’m a rubbish daddy, I can’t cope with you on my own, I love you both so much forever.”

When officers located Weston walking along the A227 at 5.40am the same morning, he said he had taken a painkiller overdose, the court heard.

Mr Forbes told Judge Simon James: “This defendant attempted a murder suicide. He attempted to murder his ex-partner and take his own life.”

The jury watched CCTV footage of Miss Sullivan’s police interview shortly after the attack.

Appearing with bruised forearms, she said: “I was kicking him and trying to defend my head but he was still hitting me, I felt like there was about five blows.

“I don’t know how but I managed to grab the hammer and kicked him and pulled the hammer from his hands.

“I shouted at the top of my voice, ‘please someone he is trying to kill me.'

“As soon as I got the hammer he ran out the door.”

The trial continues.

To read more of our in depth coverage of all of the major trials coming out of crown and magistrates' courts across the county, click here.