A knife-wielding thug who attempted to murder his former partner by stabbing her more than 50 times in a frenzied attack has been sentenced to 16 years in jail.

James McDonald viciously attacked his ex as she lay asleep in her bed - stabbing her so violently, he broke two knives.

The 30-year-old was a guest in the victim's house and had refused to accept that their relationship was over.

The court heard that on Wednesday, September 21 last year, McDonald flew into a rage and repeatedly stabbed the 32-year-old victim with a kitchen knife as she begged for him to stop.

He also hit her across the head a number of times with a stereo speaker.

During the bloody assault, his victim's child covered her mother’s heart with her hand – only to be stabbed herself.

The youngster, who feared her mother would be murdered, grabbed a cushion to shield her mum's face from the repeated blows.

The child was described by a judge as "as brave as they come" for trying to protect her mother.

Both the victim’s lungs were pierced as he stabbed her, twisting the knife into the wounds until he broke it.

Then he went downstairs, armed himself with a larger knife, and continued the attack – also arming himself with a heavy sound bar.

Police later found three knives.

“Eventually the victim played dead but he just carried on stabbing her in her face, neck, chest and back.”

Then, as children locked themselves inside a car, the bloodied woman, who had “played dead” during the assault, fled outside and collapsed in the street.

McDonald continued to stab her in front of members of the public, and grabbed her hair.

When he was challenged by a passerby, he ran back inside the building and set fire to two duvets.

He sat clutching a knife as the flames began to spread, Canterbury Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Ian Hope told how courageous neighbour, Jeremy Talbot, fearing others were trapped, kicked in the door and leapt over the flames to search the burning house.

Police and ambulance crews arrived with firefighters and the woman was taken to a London hospital in a serious condition.

"The victim is lucky to be alive after he stabbed her so many times his knife broke" - DS Ross Gurden

She was left fighting for her life after suffering more than 50 stab wounds to her head and body, a fractured cheek bone and punctured lungs. McDonald was arrested at the scene.

McDonald pleaded guilty to attempted murder, grievous bodily harm and possession of a knife in public at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday, February 10.

He also pleaded guilty to arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered.

At today's sentencing hearing, the judge described the victim's young daughter as “as brave as they come” for trying to protect her mother during the vicious attack.

Sentencing McDonald, Judge James O’Mahony told him: “This was a frenzied, relentless and renewed attack. It was horrific and carried out in front of two children.

“The daughter tried bravely to protect her mum and it was extraordinary that she survived. She has been left with permanent scarring.”

Judge O’Mahony said after the attack the victim was airlifted to hospital and had two blood transfusions while in the air ambulance.

“She had 23 wounds just to the upper torso,” Judge O’Mahony said. “She came terribly close to death and the intention was to kill her.

“The knife was twisted in a stabbing motion, delivered with deliberate aim on vulnerable parts of the body. Wounds were also caused to a child who was trying to protect her mother.”

McDonald had eight previous convictions for 11 offences, including violence, battery and affray.

In addition to the jail term he was also given a five-year extended licence for when he is released.

After the hearing, Detective Sergeant Ross Gurden said: "This was a horrific and unprovoked attack on a helpless woman and McDonald has shown he can be an extremely volatile and dangerous person with absolutely no regard for life.

"The victim is lucky to be alive after he stabbed her so many times his knife broke. I would like to commend the victim for her courage after being subjected to such a life changing ordeal and those members of the public that came to her assistance.

"We hope this lengthy sentence provides some reassurance to the public that Kent Police will not tolerate such terrible acts of violence and will do everything within its power to bring offenders to justice."