AN intensely jealous man who tried to kill a love rival in a frenzied machete attack has been jailed for 22 years.

Gary Johnson savagely hacked at Christopher Spinks as he lay sleeping in bed in the middle of the night.

The 26-year-old victim was left with horrendous injuries after the attack at his girlfriend’s house in Braidwood Mews, Stanley.

He was left with a gash to the face, head and ear and a cut to the bone on his leg.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that Johnson, could not accept the breakdown of his relationship with his former girlfriend.

Johnson, 26, of Pelaw Avenue, Chester-le-Street, denied the attack in August last year, but was convicted by a jury of attempted murder.

Sentencing Johnson to 22 years behind bars, Mr Justice Sir Stephen Males, said: “It is clear that you were intensely jealous of any contact she had with other men.”

The judge added: "The injuries which Christopher Spinks suffered were very severe.

“He had deep cuts to his nose and right cheek, a deep cut down to the bone on the left side of his scalp, and a cut to his left ear which split it in two.

"He also had deep wounds on his left leg, one of which was right down to the bone, which caused significant damage to his muscles and an important nerve.

"These were serious injuries on a defenceless man which could easily have killed him.

“It is clear from the jury’s verdict that you intended not just to cause him very serious injury, but to kill him.

“You would in all probability have done so if you had not decided to run off when you saw Holly Dobson telephoning for the police.”

Johnson, who has a young daughter, had sent a series of threatening text messages to his ex-partner in the hours before he travelled five miles to her home.

The judge said: "So there was a degree of planning and deliberation about your conduct and you wanted Holly Dobson to know what you were doing."

The court was told the attack left Mr Johnson suffering from panic attacks and having suicide thoughts and requiring a leg brace. He and Miss Dobson are no longer a couple but remain friends.

Speaking after sentencing, Detective Inspector Gavin Heckles said: "This was a savage and premeditated assault on Mr Spinks, which left him with serious psychological as well as physical injuries.

"Johnson showed no remorse at any time during our investigation and interviews with him, and the comments from the Judge summed up perfectly just how serious this was.

"I hope the substantial sentence will provide at least a measure of comfort to Mr Spinks and his family."

The judge also imposed a restraining order preventing Johnson from going within 100 metres of his ex-girlfriend or Mr Spinks or contacting them.