A spurned lover armed himself with a hammer and a knife and attacked his ex-girlfriend in revenge for an earlier scuffle, a court heard.

Robert Spanton, 47, attempted to slash Jane Kennedy across the neck with the knife but missed and stabbed her in the breast.

Spanton, of Palmerston Road, Chatham, was jailed for two years after admitting assault causing actual bodily harm, affray and three offences of possessing an offensive weapon.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Miss Kennedy had known Spanton for 14 years but they had only been in a relationship for 11 months.

Prosecutor Trevor Wright said Spanton had a problem with her former partner Jason Arnett staying with her as he believed he was coming between them.

On October 22 last year, Miss Kennedy telephoned Spanton and he began shouting at her.

He hung up on her and she decided to go to his home. She could smell alcohol and he swore at her. She told him the relationship was over.

As she and Mr Arnett sat in a car outside Spanton started banging on the window. They drove off and he chased after them. They stopped and Mr Arnett got out. There was a scuffle.

Miss Kennedy went home with Mr Arnett. Spanton sent nasty text messages and then went to the house in the evening.

Mr Wright said Mr Arnett let Spanton in and soon afterwards Miss Kennedy saw that he had a hammer in his hand. She grabbed it and Spanton told her: “If you don’t let go I will start chopping your fingers.”

He pulled a knife from his pocket and went towards Miss Kennedy. They fell on the floor. Spanton then ran after Mr Arnett, telling him: “You are a dead man.”

He tried to attack Miss Kennedy’s neck with the knife but struck her breast, which bled.

“He was brooding and got himself worked up. He said stupidity kicked in” - Alexia Zimbler, defending, of Spanton

Still armed with the weapon, Spanton continued to chase Mr Arnett and Miss Kennedy called the police.

Judge Charles Macdonald QC said he believed the motive for the attack was “sexual jealousy”.

Alexia Zimbler, defending, said Spanton had been beaten up by Miss Kennedy and Mr Arnett and he was wound up.

“He takes full responsibility for what happened thereafter,” said Miss Zimbler. “He was brooding and got himself worked up. He said stupidity kicked in.”

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