A MAN inflicted more than 30 knife wounds on his ex-girlfriend after she told him their relationship was over, a court heard.

Rowland Lake has begun a nine-year jail sentence for the attempted murder of Lisa Phillips at their home in Cobham Rise, Gillingham.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that during the frenzied attack, Lake grabbed 22-year-old Miss Phillips from behind and cut her throat, telling her: "Die ... die."

But she survived, despite suffering 13 wounds to her chest and a punctured lung. Andrew Rodger, prosecuting, said the couple had lived together for about four years and had a son, now aged two.

The relationship hit troubled times and on May 13, Miss Phillips agreed to meet Lake, 26, to discuss the situation. Lake's niece looked after the child while they went out. Both Miss Phillips and Lake had been drinking when they returned to the house in Cobham Rise. She had told him the relationship was over and a row broke out.

The babysitter left the house with friends but waited nearby because she was worried. Lake, meanwhile, followed Miss Phillips upstairs.

Mr Rodger said Lake deliberately tripped their son to distress her. She screamed at him. The girls waiting outside saw a figure take a knife from a block in the kitchen.

Lake again tripped the child. Miss Phillips said she was then aware of a blow to the left side of her body, which knocked her to the floor.

Her screams were heard outside. "There was a flurry of blows to her body," said the prosecutor. "She became aware he had a knife. She put up her arm in defence and screamed 'No, Rowland, no'.

"He approached her from behind, placed his hand on her head and lifted it up, before drawing the knife across her throat from left to right. He began to squeeze her neck uttering the words: 'Die, die.' At that stage she passed out."

The babysitter got help and Miss Phillips was found "surrounded" by blood. Mr Rodger said Lake had gone to his parents' house in Kennington, where he said: "I didn't mean to hurt her. I killed her, mum."

Mr Rodger said Miss Phillips had wounds to various parts of her body. She had internal bleeding and had surgery to remove her spleen.

Fiona Rowling, defending, said: "The loss of control was so out of character and extreme. It is true remorse he feels."

Judge Andrew Patience told Lake, who pleaded guilty: "I am dealing with someone whose behaviour on this near-fatal day was entirely out of character.

"This was an offence of the utmost gravity. It was your intention to kill her. The effect on her doesn't need to be described. It is a mercy and good fortune that she did not die."