A thug slashed his girlfriend’s throat with a bread knife and then smoked a cigarette while she lay alone with a serious injury.

Ian McQuaide had called the emergency services himself following the “horrific attack” at a flat in Herne Bay on September 5 last year.

Paramedics arrived at the scene in Central Parade and gave the woman life-saving medical attention before she was taken to a London hospital for further treatment.

After the victim told officers that McQuaide had caused her injuries, they searched the scene and recovered two knives and discovered the assault had taken place in the bathroom.

McQuaide had claimed the victim's wound was self-inflicted, before going outside to smoke a cigarette.

He was initially charged with the attempted murder of Janet Gadsby but denied attempting to kill the woman, who he had been in a relationship with, at the property.

Yet on the day of trial at Canterbury Crown Court earlier this year, moments before a jury was due to be sworn, he pleaded guilty to the lesser alternative charge of wounding with intent.

McQuaide, of Forrester Close, Canterbury, admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent and a separate charge of controlling or coercive behaviour between October 2020 and September 2022, towards the same victim.

Today he was jailed at the same court for 11 years.

He will serve an extra four years on licence after that term and will be the subject of an indefinite restraining order protecting the victim.

McQuaide was also in breach of a suspended sentence order for a previous assault at the time and also admitted assaulting another woman known to him and causing criminal damage to her property on June 20 last year.

Detective Sergeant David McIntyre, Kent Police's investigating officer, said: “This was a horrific attack and it is only thanks to the work of medics that we are not dealing with an even more serious offence.

“I commend both victims for their bravery in coming forward.

“I urge anyone who is being abused, assaulted or controlled by someone they know to tell the police as soon as possible.

“Our specially-trained team will work with you to bring perpetrators to justice and protect you from harm.”