A JILTED boyfriend who tried to murder his ex-partner by sawing at her throat "like using a bread knife on an unsliced loaf" because she wouldn't take him back has been jailed.

Karl Hughes, 31, launched the brutal attack after climbing through an unlocked window in the middle of the night and pinning down his former girlfriend Toni Bennett, 29.

A court heard the evil thug covered her mouth to stop her screaming before he pulled out an eight inch blade and viciously sawed at her neck back and forth several times.

He only stopped the horrific attack after the couple's nine-year-old son appeared at the door and asked "what are you doing to mummy?"

Hughes then slammed the knife into Miss Bennett's shoulder but she bravely managed to escape the house covered in blood and fled down the street in Dudley, West Mids.

She searched for a house with lights on and eventually found neighbours who were awake and police were called to the address on November 21 last year.

Miss Bennett survived the attack despite suffering a 3cm by 10cm cut to her throat, two other cuts to the left of her neck and a stab wound to her shoulder.

She also had "significant" defensive wounds to her hands and has been left scarred for life following the terrifying ordeal.

On Monday (16/5) Hughes was jailed for 15 years and three months at Wolverhampton Crown Court after previously admitting attempted murder.

The court heard the pair had been together for 14 years but his drinking problems and jealousy meant the relationship had become fraught - so he handed his keys over and moved out.

On the day before the attack Hughes had visited the property in the Kates Hill area of the town begging Miss Bennett to take him back.

Glyn Samuel, prosecuting, said he had then left under instruction from Miss Bennett - but left a downstairs window unlatched without her knowing.

Fearful for her and her children's safety, Miss Bennett and the three youngsters slept in the living room that evening.

The defendant - who had drunk nearly a bottle of vodka - then crept into the pair's home through the unlocked window at around 2.15am.

Miss Bennett saw her ex and immediately shouted at him and urged him to leave but as he approached the door to exit Hughes pushed her to the floor.

Mr Samuel said: "He straddled her and as she lay on the floor then he produced the knife.

"She screamed briefly, then he covered her mouth with his hand to stop her screaming any further.

"He had pressure on her mouth which was pushing her head back - exposing her throat.

"At that moment she says she thought she was going to die.

"He brought the knife up towards her throat and began to saw at her neck as if using a bread knife on an unsliced loaf - back and forth five times."

Simon Hanns, defending, said the behaviour "was out of character" for Hughes, who was "genuinely remorseful for what happened".