A jealous lover drove a knife into the side of his girlfriend’s torso as she slept at his mum’s home.

Clint Greenidge’s victim woke screaming “he stabbed me” while scrambling to escape the Ramsgate property, unaware her lung had collapsed.

Protesting his innocence, the 56-year-old was sentenced to 10 years at Canterbury Crown Court for the “chilling and calculated” attack. He will also spend four years on an extended licence when he is released.

Remorseless Greenidge lied to police and dragged his terrified victim through the courts, after police discovered him hiding behind his mother’s bed.

Crack-addict Greenidge even apologised to his victim moments after stabbing her in the side, prosecutors explained.

Barrister Daniel Stevenson explained Greenidge, then 53, and his victim smoked the Class A drug together when he became paranoid and accused her of cheating, to which she replied “stop being silly” and fell asleep.

“He then got up, pulled out a knife and stabbed her in the right hand side,” he added.

Neighbours heard the woman screaming “he stabbed me” as emergency services descended on the scene.

Greenidge fled, his frightened victim was rushed to Queen’s College in London for emergency treatment, she disclosed to a nurse he was her attacker.

But the vulnerable, coerced and controlled woman would change her story, instead painting Greenidge as a hero.

Indeed, she told officers a masked intruder leaped through the window and stabbed her - then Greenidge jumped to her aid and gave chase that September 2018 evening.

Officers would find their hands tied for around a year however, then an unexpected breakthrough came when the woman had a change of heart and courageously ended their toxic relationship.

Greenidge was arrested at his mother’s home in Aukland Avenue hiding behind her bed, the court heard.

The trial date approaching, in an attempt to have the case dropped, “controlling and coercive” Greenidge wrote her a seemingly passionate and persuasive letter.

But Greenidge, who has 39 convictions, was convicted at trial last year of wounding with intent following a majority verdict. He was acquitted for a separate charge of assault.

His victim told the court she has since felt vulnerable, angry, scared and in shock “because the man she loved and trusted did that to her.”

She told how Greenidge needs help, she no longer loves him and “doesn’t know what he has become.”

'I have no doubt you intended to cause her more harm...'

But Greenidge’s barrister James Burke said the pair had a volatile relationship, and Greenidge’s anger issues stemmed from being the victim of racism.

He told Judge Catherine Brown: “If he works towards maintaining abstinence that is the main thing that will lower his risk level (to the public)."

But Judge Brown dubbed the attack a “vicious, calculating and chilling offence”, with “remorseless Greenidge” trying to play the casualty.

“Your victim was asleep under the influence of drugs.

“You took a knife from the drawer and stabbed her in the side - I have no doubt you intended to cause her more harm.

“You were a controlling man and she was plainly frightened of you,” she said.

Jailing Greenidge for 10 years with four on licence, Judge Brown told him he was classified as a “dangerous” individual, prompting an outburst.

“You’re deluded,” he shouted, before storming off the video link camera at HMP Elmley.

“I can only hope his victim is able to move on with her life and put the events of that dreadful night to the back of her mind,” Judge Brown told the court.

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