The estranged husband of a Tonbridge nail bar manager has been convicted of trying to murder her.

A jury at Maidstone Crown Court found him guilty - and rejected his claim he was only trying to kill himself.

Victim Lien Dinh had told a jury how she pleaded with Thuan Dinh not to leave their children without a mother.

The 52-year-old ignored her pleas and carried out a 'terrifying and brutal' murder bid in March last year at the Tonbridge salon.

The attack happened a day after he had been given a restraining order to keep away from his frightened 49 year old wife.

Within hours of imposing the order, Dinh, of Rowan Mews, Tonbridge, went to the VCC Boutique salon in the High Street and lay in wait.

She revealed how when she arrived he locked her inside before allegedly trying to strangle her with a piece of rope.

Ms Dinh said he then gouged her eyes with his thumbs and stabbed her through the neck, damaging muscle and her jugular vein.

The father-of two had gone to the salon carrying bag containing a petrol-filled bottle and four butane gas cylinders.

After arriving she heard footsteps and turned to see him holding a length of rope up between his two hands before putting it to her neck.

Ms Dinh said she managed to pull it away and hold on to it, only to then have her eyes gouged, describing the pressure as 'extremely hard'.

She told the jury she had immediately shouted for help and tried to run away, but her ex then grabbed her by her hair.

"I said I didn't want my children to be without a mum..."

Ms Dinh fell onto the floor where she said her ex-husband covered her nose and mouth and started to squeeze.

She said: "It was extremely hard but I pulled his hands away. I said to him to let bygones be bygones and we could restart.

"In that moment I just thought I had to protect and rescue myself, hence I said that to him.

"I pleaded to him to let go. I asked him to think about the children. I said I didn't want my children to be without a mum."

"I was hoping the staff would come in in time to help me."

Her ordeal did eventually end when an employee arrived at the salon to see the blood and Dinh sat on top of his ex-wife.

She alerted passers-by who pulled Dinh off and restrained him until police arrived.

Dinh, who denied the offence, will be sentenced later this year after the preparation of probation reports.

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