A jealous husband who launched a murderous and callous attack on his estranged wife has been given an extended 30-year jail term.

Matthew Breaker, 47, viciously assaulted Lisa Breaker with a hammer and two knives before being stopped by a teenager who stamped on the assailant’s leg to stop the assault after hearing screams.

Now Breaker, of Swanstree Avenue, Sittingbourne, has received an immediate 26-year sentence and the judge ordered he serve another four years on licence after ruling him "dangerous and manipulative".

Judge Philip St John-Stevens told him: “It was a brutal and cowardly act of violence.”

Lisa Breaker had told the judge: "Matt and I were together for nearly 20 years. He knew alcohol changed his behaviour and it caused issues throughout our marriage.

"I loved Matt but his drinking became too much..I am devastated that our relationship meant less than alcohol and shocked that he waited in the dark for me to return home and try to kill me."

Maidstone Crown Court heard how Breaker was angry after discovering she had been out at a Christmas party the evening of December 11, 2022.

Prosecutor Don Ramble told how he stalked his ex and waited outside her Sittingbourne home for nearly two hours after boozing and taking cannabis and then arming himself with two knives and a hammer.

The judge told him: "This was a callous, premeditated and unprovoked attack after lying in wait and attempting to kill her."

The jury heard a recording of her terror screams which were caught on a ring doorbell as she returned at 1.45am – her first outing since the break-up of her marriage.

Mr Ramble said: "Breaker had been drinking before he carried out his attack and the idea of her going out to a Christmas party combined with the break-up was seemingly too much for him to handle.

"Breaker proceeded to violently attack Lisa, repeatedly striking his wife with a hammer, targeting her head.

"He then moved on to use a Stanley knife, to continue the attack."

The prosecutor told how Mrs Breaker made a desperate attempt to protect herself from the knife, tried to grab hold of it and cutting her hands.

Mr Ramble said her screams were heard by people living nearby and a teenager ran to her aid and stamped on Breaker's ankle to stop the vicious attack.

The victim, who suffered multiple fractures to her cheekbone, later said in an impact statement read to the court: "He was a man I loved for many years and now don't recognise..[he was] a man I loved, trusted and had children with.

"This will take me years to come to terms with...I will never forget the night I had to fight for my life."

Mrs Breaker had revealed how one of her fingers is still numb, and she still lives in fear, adding: “I get anxiety being outside in the dark but [I am] trying to be strong as I don't want the children to be afraid.”

Breaker, who had denied attempted murder, will now serve two-thirds of the 26-year sentence before being eligible for parole and when he is finally released he has been ordered to stay away from the victim indefinitely.