An obsessive stalker plunged a kitchen knife into a woman after confronting her in a gym steam room, a Court heard.

Jealous Suleman Malik, 28, left his victim – who was dressed only in her bikini – with a life-threatening wound to the abdomen.

He was locked up indefinitely by a judge who warned he could be a future killer.

Security officer Malik, of Emily Street, Keighley, struck at Fitness First in Worth Way, Keighley, on April 10 last year, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Michelle Colborne described Malik as jealous, obsessed and controlling.

He rang his victim, a manager in her fifties, up to 70 times a day, leaving a stream of abusive messages.

The day before the stabbing, the woman went to Keighley Police Station but no one was available to see her and she arranged to return in two days.

The next day, Malik, in a state of mental chaos, took the eight-inch bladed knife to the fitness centre. He opened the door to the steam room, asked the woman to come out and confronted her in the changing rooms.

Malik stabbed her hard in the abdomen. He dropped the knife, turned to look at her and walked off, impervious to her injury and cries for help, said Miss Colborne.

The knife caused an eight-inch-deep wound, severing her kidney. The woman lost up to two and a half pints of blood and was saved only by the skill of surgeons. Her kidney had to be removed and she spent ten days in Airedale Hospital.

Paul Williams, Malik’s barrister, said he suffered from depression, anxiety, stress and paranoia. Naïve about sexual relationships, he became overwhelmed and obsessive.

Malik pleaded guilty to causing the woman grievous bodily harm with intent and possessing a knife.

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC said it was a chilling attack after Malik subjected his victim to “intense and frightening harassment”.

“She is a thoroughly decent, extremely hardworking, professional, managerial, lady,” the judge said.

He told Malik: “I have no doubt that you pose the most significant risk to members of the public.”

Malik was sentenced to Imprisonment for Public Protection based on a ten-year jail term.

He will not even be considered for parole for at least five years.