A WOMAN watched in horror as her ex-partner hacked at her new boyfriend with a machete as he slept, a jury has been told.

Gary Johnson is said to have burst into the 31-year-old’s County Durham home in jealous rage before carrying out the frenzied attack.

He allegedly slashed the 26-year-old across the legs and head, leaving his ear hanging off and blood spattered across the bedroom at Braidwood Mews, in Stanley.

Johnson, a painter and decorator, is said to have shouted "I’ll kill him, I’ll kill him", before punching his victim about 20 times to the face and head then carrying out the crazed knife attack.

He has been charged with attempted murder as well as wounding with intent and gone on trial at Newcastle Crown Court today, (Monday, January 19) having denied both charges.

In a police video interview played to the court, his former girlfriend, a mother-of-three children, who were staying with their father at the time, said: “At first I thought he was whipping him because of the noise and he was moving really fast.

“I realised that the blood was all over the bedroom, his leg was open and his ear was hanging off. I realised it was machete. It was horrendous. He (Johnson) was like a caged animal.”

The court heard Johnson, of Pelaw Avenue, Chester-le-Street, had been in a relationship with the woman for two years and was upset when she ended it with him.

He is said to have sent her a series of text messages making threats to towards her new partner.

The court was told the two men did not know each other.

As well as the injuries to his ear, the victim suffered a cut to the head, nose, as well as a deep gash to the leg and several more cuts and bruises.

Johnson’s former partner said: “I never thought he had it in him to be that nasty, to take a machete to someone when they are asleep. It is horrible. I did not think he was evil. I am traumatised."

After inflicting the injuries, Johnson is said to have kicked his victim in the face before he left when he realised police had been called by the woman.

The attack is said to have happened at about 4.40am on August 9 last year, but Johnson told officers it was not him who carried it out.

The trial continues.