A JEALOUS man, who embraced his former lover before repeatedly plunging a kitchen knife into her, has been jailed for 11 years.

Ladislav Grajcar had previously threatened to "make a thousand holes" in Jana Horvathova, before attempting to murder her at her Bradford home on April 4.

Slovakian national, Grajcar, told the mother-of-nine: "If you're not mine, you're not going to be anybody else's," before stabbing her six times in the back and neck.

Grajcar, 35, of Sunningdale, Fairweather Green, Bradford, used such severe force that the knife snapped.

Miss Horvathova suffered life-threatening injuries, including a punctured lung.

Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday that he had convictions for battering Miss Horvathova, in 2011 and 2013.

He sent her menacing and threatening messages, saying: "I will make a thousand holes in your body" and "I will beat you up until you die".

The court heard that Grajcar had served sentences of imprisonment in his homeland for robbery and theft and had received a suspended jail sentence for "causing bodily harm."

He formed a relationship with Miss Horvathova when he came to the UK in around 2006.

Three of her children were his and Grajcar worked hard to support his family life, the court was told.

But his on-off relationship with Miss Horvathova was abusive and violent, with the police repeatedly called to their address and restraining orders made.

By April this year, the couple had separated again and Grajcar went round to Miss Horvathova's home in the early hours after he had been drinking.

The Recorder of Bradford, Judge Roger Thomas QC, said Grajcar's pleas for a reconciliation were "going nowhere".

He fetched a knife from the kitchen, embraced Miss Horvathova, and stabbed her while at least five children were present in the house.

"Hearing terrible screams, and the attack, two teenage girls came to the assistance of their mother. You fled the house, leaving her in a very serious state, bleeding and fearing that it was the end of her life," Judge Thomas told Grajcar.

Miss Horvathova was saved by paramedics and spent two weeks in hospital.

Grajcar, who pleaded guilty to attempting to murder her, would be sent back to Slovakia and banned from ever returning to the UK, Judge Thomas said.

After the case, Detective Chief Inspector Chris Walker, who led the investigation, said: "Grajcar repeatedly stabbed his former partner and then fled the scene, leaving her with life-threatening injuries.

"Had it not been for the intervention of her daughters, and the efforts of the medical staff, the consequences could have been much worse.

"She has been incredibly brave and is still recovering from her injuries and the traumatic events of that morning.

"We hope today's sentence will be of some comfort to her and her family, who are gradually recovering from this shocking incident, and that it will give them some closure."

Miss Horvathova said: "I would like to thank the NHS and the ambulance crew for their actions on that day, which potentially saved my life.

"I would also like to thank the police for their excellent work and constant support throughout the investigation.

"I am still recovering from what happened, but my life is gradually returning to normal.

"Today has given me and my family some closure and we can now move on with our lives."