A man who tried to murder his ex-wife in a "horrific" attack at the nail bar where she was manager has been jailed for more than 30 years.

Thuan Dinh stalked ex-wife Lien, 50, and armed himself with a rope and knife after taking her hostage as she arrived at work in Tonbridge.

CCTV shows Thuan Dinh walking towards the salon

But the brave victim fought for her life and was saved after two partners Katherine Jordan, 65, and Roger Trask, 75, came to her aid and pulled Dinh away.

Judge Philip St John-Stevens commended them for their courage in tackling the knife man.

Mr Trask was too ill to attend the sentencing hearing but Ms Jordan was told by the judge: "You undoubtedly saved her life." They are both set to receive a High Sheriff Award for Bravery

He also ruled that Dinh will have to serve an immediate term of 28 years for what he described as the "horrific" attack which had left the victim with physical and psychological harm.

The judge then added another four years, bringing the total to 32, to be served when he is released after serving at least 18 years.

He told Dinh: "I saw you give evidence and I saw little remorse."

Dinh, who sat silently in the dock, was convicted of attempted murder of his ex-wife on March 11, 2019, and admitted breaching a restraining order.

The 53-year-old attacker, who had been boozing in the early morning, later claimed he was only trying to kill himself.

But the jury at Maidstone Crown Court rejected his account after the victim revealed how she pleaded with her ex-lover not to leave their children without a mother.

Dinh ignored her pleas and carried out a 'terrifying and brutal' murder bid in March last year at the Tonbridge salon.

The attack happened a day after he had been given a restraining order to keep away from his terrified wife.

Defence barrister Ben Temple said it had been a" knee-jerk reaction" to the earlier court order after Dinh faced the "catastrophic impact" of losing the support of his wife and family.

He said Dinh had "liberated" his wife 30 years ago from a refugee camp in Hong Kong.

"It's a terrible symmetry that it should end with his self-destruction," he added.

Dinh, of Rowan Mews, Tonbridge, had gone to the VCC Boutique salon in the High Street and lay in wait.

The victim revealed how when she arrived he locked her inside before allegedly trying to strangle her with a piece of rope.

Ms Dinh said he then gouged her eyes with his thumbs and stabbed her through the neck, damaging muscle and her jugular vein.

The father-of two had gone to the salon carrying bag containing a petrol-filled bottle and four butane gas cylinders.

After arriving she heard footsteps and turned to see him holding a length of rope up between his two hands before putting it to her neck.

Ms Dinh said she managed to pull it away and hold on to it, only to then have her eyes gouged, describing the pressure as 'extremely hard'.

She told the jury she had immediately shouted for help and tried to run away, but her ex then grabbed her by her hair.

"In that moment I just thought I had to protect and rescue myself, hence I said that to him.

"I pleaded to him to let go. I asked him to think about the children. I said I didn't want my children to be without a mum."

"I was hoping the staff would come in in time to help me."

The court heard how the victim had married in 2011 after she was rescued from a detention centre in Hong Kong before moving to the UK.

But the marriage was loveless as Dinh began to be more controlling and threatened to kill his ex-wife if she ever left him.

And even as she pleaded with her would-be killer – he kissed her before carrying on the attack.

After the hearing, Ms Jordan said: "We were just passing the nail bar on our way for breakfast when I heard a woman asking for help."

She told how she grabbed Dinh and pulled him away – seeing blood everywhere – and then sat on him until the police arrived.

Detective Chief Inspector Garry Cook said: "Dinh was responsible for a truly horrific assault, which left his victim suffering some quite appalling injuries. His actions were clearly premeditated. As well as the rope, Dinh had brought with him accelerants and we believe it was his intention to set fire to the shop after the assault.

"I hope today’s sentence will provide some comfort to the victim, who will hopefully be assured that Dinh will have to serve a significant time in prison before he can be considered for release. I would also like to thank those members of public who bravely intervened and prevented Dinh from causing any further harm and whose prompt actions may have even saved the victim’s life."