A BRADFORD man stabbed his girlfriend 11 times in a frenzied attack at her home, a murder trial was told.

As 42-year-old Rebecca Bamber frantically tried to escape, she was repeatedly attacked with two knives after violence erupted in the bedroom of her home, the court heard.

David Hoyle, 39, of Idle Road, Bradford, struck her on the head with a bottle, fracturing her skull, Chester Crown Court heard.

He then used the broken bottle as a weapon to stab her in the neck and back, continuing to attack her as she fled downstairs, bleeding heavily, the jury was told.

Knife wounds on her hands and arms were inflicted as she tried to defend herself, the court was told

It was the first night the couple had spent together in her home in Mersey Road, West Bank, Widnes, after rekindling their relationship, the court heard.

They had been together 15 years ago and contacted each other on Facebook three weeks before the fatal attack.

Prosecuting, Gordon Cole QC, said: “This re-establishing of contact led to Rebecca and the defendant starting a new relationship.

“They spent the night drinking and taking drugs.”

Mr Cole said: “The pathologist, Dr Brian Rodgers found 13 major stab defects representing 11 penetrating stab wounds.

“Six of those wounds were to the upper back and a further stab wound which severed the left jugular vein.

“One stab wound had penetrated the left chest area transfixing the left lung and penetrating the heart.

“The injuries to the upper back are consistent with Rebecca Bamber trying to escape after the infliction of head injuries and being stabbed to the back.”

Forensic scientists painstakingly examined all the bloodstains and footprints to piece together the sequence of the blows.

A neighbour, Simon Pickford, was hanging out washing when he heard screaming and breaking glass.

He knocked on her front door and saw Rebecca near a window.

Mr Cole said: "She was covered in blood and mouthed the words: 'Phone the police.'

Mr Pickford pushed open a garden gate and found Rebecca collapsed on the patio.

Mr Cole added: “He saw the defendant standing there holding a knife.

“He saw Rebecca in the garden. She was naked apart from some ripped clothing that was around her neck.

“She was covered in blood and was bleeding heavily from a wound to her neck and a wound to the back of her head.”

The jury of eight women and four men listened to a chilling 999 call as Mr Pickford described the horrific scene.

He told the operator:”Jesus Christ. He’s got a knife. There’s blood splattered everywhere.”

Mr Pickford and Amanda Andrews, who works in a shop across the road, tried to stem the bleeding.

Rebecca was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at Whiston Hospital.

Hoyle, who denies murder but admits manslaughter, was captured on a CCTV camera driving off in a white Mercedes Sprinter van.

Mr Pickford gave police the vehicle’s registration number.

Police officers followed him and had to use a taser and spray to detain him after he resisted arrest on the M56.

The incident happened at around 6.40am on Sunday, June 8, this year.

The trial continues.

MORE TOP STORIES