A Thanet mother survived a frenzied stabbing despite being wounded more than 50 times by a jealous ex-lover.

At one point, the victim's terrified daughter placed her hand over her mum’s heart to try to stop the savage attack.

But James McDonald continued stabbing... twice breaking knives as the shocking incident spilled into the street.

Then, as children locked themselves inside a car, the bloodied woman, who had “played dead” during the assault then collapsed in the street.

But 30-year-old McDonald just set fire to two duvets inside her house and sat clutching a knife as the flames began to spread, Canterbury Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Ian Hope told how courageous neighbour, Jeremy Talbot, fearing others were trapped, kicked in the door and leapt over the flames to search the burning house.

Now MacDonald, who lives in St Peters in Broadstairs, is facing a long sentence after admitting charges including attempted murder, arson and wounding.

Mr Hope told how last September McDonald turned up drunk at his former girlfriend’s home – despite their relationship having ended.

Earlier he had texted the victim saying he had got a knife and was planning to kill himself because “alcohol” had wrecked the relationship.

"Eventually the victim played dead but he just carried on stabbing her in her face, neck, chest and back" - prosecutor Ian Hope

Mr Hope said the victim had allowed him to sleep downstairs but the following morning he went to her bedroom and tried to start cuddling.

She told him there was to be no renewal of a sexual relationship and he left her bedroom but returned armed with a knife and began punching and stabbing her.

Mr Hope said McDonald, who “had an angry face”, repeatedly stabbed his screaming victim as the child covered her mother’s heart with her hand – only to be stabbed herself.

The youngster who feared her mother would be murdered grabbed a cushion to shield her mum's face from the repeated blows.

The prosecutor said both the victim’s lungs were pierced as he stabbed her, twisting the knife into the wounds until he broke it.

Then he went downstairs, armed himself with a larger knife, and continued the attack – also arming himself with a heavy sound bar.

Police later found three knives.

“Eventually the victim played dead but he just carried on stabbing her in her face, neck, chest and back.”

Mr Hope said eye-witnesses told how McDonald paused between strikes as if choosing where the next blow would land.

As children locked themselves in a car, the victim staggered into the street covered in blood and neighbours noticed black smoke coming from the house.

It was then Mr Talbot forced his way inside to ensure no-one was trapped, the prosecutor added.

The victims were taken to hospital and treated for a number of serious knife injuries.

Mr Hope said there were more than 30 wounds to her face, head and torso and more than 20 other wounds to her arms as she tried to protect herself, which have left scars.

Oliver Saxby QC, defending, said a psychiatrist had reported that McDonald’s motive may have been jealousy, adding: “But it wasn’t done in a sheer jealous rage”.

Judge James O’Mahony adjourned sentence until Friday.