A 36-year-old man has begun a 12-year jail sentence after being found guilty of attempted murder.

Sergio Lapa, of Edmund Moundeford Road, Feltwell, was found guilty at the beginning of April and was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court on May 6.

The court heard how on October 11 last year, Lapa stabbed his ex-partner outside her home in Winchester Way, Thetford, after asking to see their child.

As she came out holding the child, he took him from her, placed him in the back seat of the car and immediately turned back around and stabbed her in the stomach. The knife went through the victim's abdomen causing internal injuries, before he repeatedly stabbed her, leaving her with life-threatening injuries.

Lapa then left the scene in his car and drove to a nearby health centre where he handed over the child and admitted stabbing his ex partner.

Speaking outside court, Detective Sergeant Jane Edwards of Norfolk Constabulary's domestic abuse investigation unit, said: 'The severity of the sentence Sergio Lapa received underlines how horrific the attack was on his ex-partner.

'A restraining order has been issued by the crown court upon Lapa's conviction to protect the victim from further contact from him. Our priority is to ensure victims of domestic violence get the help and support they need and we will continue our focus on prosecuting offenders.'