A JEALOUS man who stabbed his ex-lover in the chest after she joined on online dating site has been jailed for 15 years at Cardiff Crown Court.

Peter Adlington told his former girlfriend: "If you break my heart I will stab you in yours" before attacking hospital worker Michelle Williams.

Adlington was convicted of the attempted murder of Ms Williams, 48, on Friday.

The stabbing occurred just hours after she told him their 20-year relationship was over.

The court heard Adlington became jealous when he found out she had been internet dating and was seeing another man.

The divorcee, 50, visited Ms Williams at work in the Royal Gwent Hospital in the hours before, taking her flowers and chocolates.

But she told him she had moved on - and was seeing someone else after joining the online dating site.

Adlington let himself in to his flat with a key he'd had cut without her knowledge after taking one from her purse.

But he flew into a rage when she walked in with another man. He asked the new man to leave for 10 minutes for the pair to "have a chat."

Ms Williams described seeing Adlington tucking something into the waistband of his trousers - and said he tapped her chest saying:"Here's your heart".

Cardiff Crown Court heard he then plunged the kitchen knife into her chest.

But she managed to fight him off before he fled from her home in St Julians.

She had told the court: "He did say that if I slept with somebody it would break his heart and he would stab me in mine. I didn't think he would seriously do that.

"The only thought in my head was 'I have to get out of this', I bit him and fought him off."

Police officers spotted a trail of blood leading away from the flat.

A police helicopter with thermal cameras was deployed and officer found Adlington behind a tree.

Ms Williams survived after being treated in her own hospital for four stab wounds.

In a victim impact statement, she said: "I've been more emotionally effected than physically. I can still see the image of the incident in my head .

"I'm definitely less sociable then I used to be. I think I think about more than anything is what could have been.

"I know I'm lucky I didn't die, and that's the thing find very distressing. It would have had an enormous effect on my family, my daughter and my grandchildren."

Prosecutor Michael Jones said: "It's fortunate that the injury was not fatal."

Adlington told the jury: "She told me she didn't want me any more and things like that and I just reached out to grab anything and picked up a knife in the sink.

"I said to her: 'You have broken my heart', grabbed the collar of her coat with one hand and stabbed her with the other.

"I wanted to hurt her – I wasn't thinking straight."

Judge Eleri Rees said: " This was a preplanned attempt to kill Michelle Williams. She was on her own in the flat and therefore vulnerable."

After the case detective constable Andrew Williams of Gwent Police said: "This was a disturbing incident involving a very possessive and controlling offender.

"Adlington's actions were devious and calculated and had it not been for the bravery of the victim in defending herself the incident could have had more tragic conclusion.

"The courage and dignity of the victim who endured this horrific attack must be acknowledged and commended.

"Her bravery in attending court and giving evidence was vital to the positive outcome."