A man who stabbed his ex-girlfriend with a kitchen knife in a drunken row has been jailed for eight years.

Colin Standing, 41,who repeatedly slashed Tracey Nicholls across her face, neck and hands, admitted ausing grievous bodily harm Standing, 41, of Plaistow Close, Whitehawk, Brighton, was at Miss Nicholls' home in Bamford Close, Bevendean.

He drank 11 bottles of beer and a fierce row broke out when she returned.

Standing grabbed a kitchen knife, slashing at his ex-lover's neck and slicing her hands as she fought to protect herself.

Horrified by his actions, Standing threw down the knife and tore off his shirt to use as a makeshift bandage.

Minutes later, overcome with remorse, Standing phoned police and confessed.

Prosecutor Michael Warren said: "Tracey Nicholls and Colin Standing had a relationship on and off for ten years. It is apparent it was stormy and violence played a part.

"They had split up in 2000.

"In early December, Tracey contacted the defendant because her brother had died suddenly and the two men had got on well.

"Thereafter they had spent some time together and had slept in each other's houses.

"On December 23 Miss Nicholls had been to visit her mother in hospital and came back relatively early to find the defendant and her neighbour, Steven Rix, in her home.

"They had carried a three-piece suite into the house.

"She had been having a relationship with the neighbour. She went out for a drink with Mr Rix and before leaving noticed there were several empty bottles of lager in the house."

"She returned at about 10.30pm that evening and could see the defendant had been drinking a lot."

Mr Warren said Miss Nicholls suffered several wounds to her hands, shoulder and arm, and one to her neck a fraction away from a series of veins.

He said: "According to the hospital report, if these veins had been hit it would have killed the patient. She still has limited movement in her right hand."