A woman was stabbed so many times by her former live-in-lover doctors could not count the number of wounds she received, a court heard.

Michelle Storer woke up during the night in her Banbury home thinking she was having a violent dream, but found ex-boyfriend Ian McLean, 35, attacking her.

Oxford Crown Court heard yesterday he stabbed her so violently it bent the tip of the kitchen knife he used.

Julia Flanagan, prosecuting, said Miss Storer, who lived with her two young daughters, neither of whom were McLean's, had had a panic alarm installed in her home by police, following the break-up of her 10-year relationship with the defendant.

The attack, which was witnessed by one of the girls, came just eight months after McLean had been released early from prison following an attack on a man with a razor. He also had a string of previous convictions, including eight for assault.

McLean, of Balmoral Avenue, Banbury, was jailed for life, but was told by the judge that he could apply for parole in four years.

McLean had been due to stand trial for attempted murder, but admitted a lesser charge of wounding with intent.

Nigel Daly, defending, said his client had an "extreme personality disorder".