A jilted student nurse tried to stab his ex-girlfriend and her new lover with a carving knife at Eastbourne District General Hospital.

Kevin Moorghen, 23, flew into a rage and repeatedly knifed the door of Chloe Parker's home when she refused to see him, a court heard.

Moorghen, who was furious at being dumped three weeks earlier, broke the lock and burst in wielding the weapon.

Miss Parker's new boyfriend, lifeguard Francis Woods, managed to throw him out of the flat at the hospital.

But Moorghen pushed the door open again and waved the knife at them.

They were so frightened they had to leap out of the way to avoid being stabbed.

Blackfriars Crown Court in south London heard how Moorghen's future as a student nurse at the University of Sussex - where he was studying with Miss Parker - was in now in doubt.

Prosecutor Laura McQuitty said Moorghen split up with Miss Parker, 20, three weeks before the attack on May 6 this year.

At 2.30am he called her on the communal telephone at her home in Ellis House.

Mr Woods, 43, who also lives at the hospital, went to see what was happening.

Miss McQuitty said: "The phone stopped but banging was heard from the hallway. The door flew open, and the room was illuminated by the hallway light.

"This man was recognised. Mr Woods demanded to know what he wanted. He was aware Moorghen was holding a large knife.

"Mr Woods managed to remove Moorghen from the room and pushed the door shut. Both Mr Woods and Miss Parker pushed against the door.

"Moorghen managed to place his arm around the door and tried to stab Mr Woods, who dodged the blows.

"Both Miss Parker and Mr Woods pushed against the door and heard blows at head height."

Police arrived and arrested Moorghen.

He told them he wanted to speak to Miss Parker about their relationship, and denied being aggressive.

The student said he had taken the knife from the flat's communal kitchen.

Moorghen, who had no previous convictions, took up nursing after studying one year of a law degree.

His barrister Roger Booth called the incident "a very unattractive case in many ways".

Moorghen admitted having too much to drink and said he could not remember exactly what happened.

He now faces being kicked off his course.

Mr Booth said: "Staff at the University of Sussex are going to think long and hard whether they really feel Mr Moorghen is suitable to continue.

"They have to have in mind whether he is the right person in any event to be let loose on the public in two years' time as a qualified nurse.

"By this one rash and irresponsible criminal act he has put his future in jeopardy."

Moorghen, of Fowler Road, Mitcham, Surrey, pleaded guilty to affray.

A charge of aggravated burglary was left on file. He was sentenced to 180 hours of community punishment and ordered to pay £125 each to Miss Parker and Mr Woods.

He also has to pay £517 prosecution costs.

Sentencing him, Judge John Samuels, QC, said that by his guilty plea Moorghen had recognised it was "wholly unreasonable" to try to speak to Miss Parker at 3am.

Judge Samuels said: "You also accept that your conduct, which included shouting and stabbing at the door with the kitchen knife, would be regarded by anyone as threatening and was very frightening to those concerned.

"My perception is that at the time you were still quite immature."

He was passing a non-custodial sentence to allow Moorghen to draw a line under the incident.