A man has been jailed for 15 years for a “frenzied attack” on his former girlfriend that left her paralysed from the chest down.

Donovan Golding, 36, of Atlip Road, Wembley, was sentenced at Harrow Crown Court today for the attempted murder of his ex-girlfriend Nicolita Ghette in July last year.

On July 8 Golding went to the home of Ms Ghete in Hindes Road, Harrow, and tried to get in through the front door.

He eventually did so and after a long argument attacked Ms Ghete with a kitchen knife.

Judge Graham Arran said: “This was a frenzied attack on her. You stabbed her seven or eight times in the neck and chest and also in the back.

“You then put the knife on yourself, but it is not clear if you tried to take you own life after seeing what you had just done, or if you did this to try and indicate she had attacked you first.

“At the scene police acted swiftly and speedily and her life was saved.

“The victim is now paralysed from the neck down. Her life has been ruined. However I do not believe you went to her home with the intention of killing her."

He added: “This was a horrific reaction to the end of the relationship which is one of the matters I have great concern about.”

The court also heard how the victim had been taken to hospital and was on life support for seven days.

She was eventually able to give evidence to the court from her hospital bed via video link.

Defence barrister Andrew Hurst told the court Golding had tried to take his own life on the day of the incident and had said he now wished the paramedics had not saved him.

He said: “The defendant is very remorseful for what he has done. He has destroyed the woman he continues to love.”

Golding was found guilty unanimously by a jury on January 15.

The judge commended the police who attended the scene and said they had acted “magnificently” to save the victim's life.