A man tried to kill his estranged wife by stabbing her three times - and then plunged the knife into his own body as police broke into their home, a court heard.

Bulgarian Nikolay Batkadzhov knifed Cristina Cilipic twice in the neck and once in the chest, it was alleged.

Martin Yale, prosecuting, said after an officer smashed down the door he was sprayed with Miss Cilipic's blood.

The policeman tried to calm down Batkadzhov, but he laughed and stabbed himself, Mr Yale told a jury at Maidstone Crown Court.

Both narrowly escaped fatal injuries and needed surgery in hospital, Batkadzhov to have the blade removed.

Miss Cilipic, a Romanian, met 27-year-old Batkadzhov when they were working at Newmafruits Farm in Chartham, near Canterbury. They married and had a daughter, Camellia, who has been living in Moldova with Miss Cilipic's parents.

Mr Yale said the relationship deteriorated and in December 2011 Batkadzhov was cautioned for assaulting Miss Cilipic.

Until early April last year they had lived together in Farncombe Way, Whitfield, Dover, with Miss Cilipic's brother Alexandru. She had by then slept with another work colleague, Rafal Tutka.

"In the period leading up to the attack, it seems Mr Batkadzhov's jealousy was building and his behaviour became more and more possessive," said Mr Yale.

Nikolay Batkadzhov is on trial at Maidstone Crown Court

The day before the attack on Sunday April 8 last year, Batkadzhov had been hanging around the caravan site where Newmafruits workers lived - believing his wife was there with Mr Tutka.

Later that evening, he turned up at the Whitfield address while just Miss Cilipic's brother was there. Mr Cilipic left Batkadzhov sleeping there the next afternoon.

When Miss Cilipic arrived home, Batkadzhov is said to have awoken and was immediately aggressive, striking her and pulling her hair.

"He was challenging her over why she did not want to be with him," said the prosecutor. "The topic of divorce came up, but he said he did not have the money for a divorce.

"As this was going on, he was drinking cans of lager. He challenged her over having an affair. He started to ask her if she was 'ready', saying he would kill her. He then went on to attack her."

Batkadzhov denies attempted murder and an alternative charge of wounding with intent. The trial continues.