A husband who tried to kill his estranged wife when he stabbed her at least nine times in a graveyard has been jailed for 20 years.

David Norris wept as a judge told him: “I am satisfied this was a murderous assault.”

The 51-year-old window cleaner, of Morgan Drive, Greenhithe, denied attempting to murder Dionne Norris, claiming he loved her and did not want to kill her.

But a jury of eight men and four women convicted him today by an 11-1 majority verdict. He had admitted wounding with intent.

He will serve half the sentence before being released on licence.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Norris told his wife as he repeatedly plunged the knife into her: “I’m sorry, Dionne, if I can’t have you no one can.”

“I was trying to fight him off. I saw him taking a knife out of his pocket. I said: ‘Dave, think of the boys.’ He said: ‘---- the boys" - Dionne Norris

He only stopped the attack when she “played dead” and a farmer disturbed him after hearing her screams.

The couple had been together for 30 years and married for 27 years. They had two children.

Mrs Norris, 45, said the relationship was good at first but it deteriorated as the years went by. “He treated me like dirt,” she said.

An Arsenal supporter, she said she left him on August 28 last year, taking with her just her club shirt.

She went to stay with Michael Bedford, who she met on Facebook and later started a relationship with.

On October 11 she and Norris agreed to visit her mother’s grave at Blue Bell Hill crematorium and then his grandmother’s grave at St Nicholas Church in Southfleet.

Norris asked her if they could save their marriage, but she told him it was over.

When they reached the churchyard in Southfleet he went to the boot of the car and she walked to the grave with flowers.

“I noticed he was looking around,” said Mrs Norris. “I bent down to put flowers on the grave. He just lunged at me, He said: ‘I’m sorry, Dionne, if I can’t have you no one can.’

“He put his hands tight around my throat. I screamed. He put his hands over my mouth. I was on the ground by the grave. He was sitting on my legs.

“I was trying to fight him off. I saw him taking a knife out of his pocket. I said: ‘Dave, think of the boys.’ He said: ‘---- the boys.’

“He stabbed me. I don’t know how many times. I was on my side. I couldn’t get him off. I was aware of a gentleman. David looked around and told him to ---- off.

“I thought he was going to kill me because of the evil in his eyes. I had to play dead. I said to him: ‘I can see my mum. Let me go and be with my mum.’

“I wanted to let him think he had killed me. He stroked my forehead and said: ‘Now go to sleep with your mum.’ I closed my eyes and held my breath.

“I could see him slowly walking away. I opened my eyes and started screaming. The man came. He called the police and an ambulance came.”

Mrs Norris was taken to a London hospital and treated for multiple stab wounds.

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