A MAN has been jailed for life after attempting to murder his ex-partner in a horrifying meat cleaver attack.

Kerry Roberts, 49 (pictured) pleaded guilty to trying to kill his then-girlfriend, Ashley Arnold, 44, at the home they shared in Meadow Way, Jaywick, on November 1 last year.

Roberts had denied the charge, but changed his plea at the start of his trial at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday.

He was jailed for life on Tuesday and was told he will serve a minimum of nine years.

The court had heard the couple had been at a Halloween party, organised by Roberts’ daughter Linzi, when he started acting strangely and was uncharacteristically emotional.

After the couple returned home at 10pm, Roberts, who suffers from depression, launched a sustained attack with a meat cleaver.

Miss Arnold suffered severe cuts to her throat, a six-inch gash from her armpit to her right breast and severe injuries to her hands while trying to defend herself.

Read the full story in the Clacton Gazette, out now.