A jilted Lowestoft husband launched a 'brutal attack' on his sister-in-law and her son, as he sought revenge for his wife leaving him.

Thomas Foley, 37 of Dell Road, stabbed his sister-in-law at her door, having driven 130 miles to her home in London.

Blackfriars Crown Court heard how the attack happened as Foley attempted to kidnap the pair to use as a bargaining tool against his estranged wife.

The attack, which was carried out in April, came after Foley's wife had emigrated to Ecuador along with the pair's two young children.

The court was told how Foley's relationship with his wife had grown sour with the couple disagreeing over wanting to move to the South American country.

With Foley being treated for mental health issues in England, his wife and the two children went to live in Ecuador.

In the lead up to the attack, Foley sent several messages to his wife, described to the court as 'increasingly threatening and desperate'.

One read: 'There will be huge consequences. I gave you the chance to take a return flight, if not, I take action. You will feel my grief.

'I will deal with this eye for eye. Stop this and back down or this will be messy for a lot of people.'

The court then heard Foley had driven to his wife's sister's house in Edmonton, armed with a knife, stabbing her several times in the face and neck, causing life-changing injuries.

Foley was then restrained by a neighbour who had spotted his knife as he approached the road, and his victim's 19-year-old son, who also suffered injuries.

The son was also forced to leave his job to care for his mother.

Sentencing Foley to life imprisonment with a minimum of six years and three months, judge Mark Bishop said he demonstrated 'a dangerous combination of use of control and premeditation, coupled with a willingness to act with violence.'

He said: 'The victim still has pain and scarring and it affects her seeing and hearing.

'It has had an enormous physical and emotional impact and has also affected her relationship with her sister.'

Det Con William Spencer of Haringey CID said: 'This was a brutal attack in a quiet residential street. Domestic violence in any form will not be tolerated and a dangerous offender has been brought to justice.

'I would like to praise the bravery of the local 'good Samaritan' that undoubtedly saved the victim's life.'

Foley faced seven charges in total, admitting attempted kidnapping, wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, having an offensive weapon and two counts of assault.