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Jealous ex knifed woman 20 times and said: 'If I can't have you, no one can'
A JEALOUS ex-boyfriend repeatedly knifed a woman 20 times in a frenzied attack.
Rebecca Richards, 22, screamed in horror as Andrew Banks used two kitchen knives to stab her.
Banks, 41, of Hebble Vale Drive, Wheatley, Halifax, denies attempting to murder her during the five-hour incident on December 28.
Prosecuting at Bradford Crown Court, Andrew Kershaw, said Banks had acted in a "fit of rage".
The court heard the couple met in August 2004 on Miss Richard's 18th birthday.
They lived together at Hebble Vale Drive. They got engaged in December 2005 and talked about having children.
But Miss Richards moved out on December 10, 2007, saying she no longer loved Banks.
Mr Kershaw said the knife attack happened as Banks begged her to return.
It started with Banks pushing her down the stairs.
He then jumped on top of her, kicked, punched and stamped on her.
He collected two stainless steel knives from the kitchen and told her "if I can't have you, no one can have you".
"He pushed her towards the Christmas tree. She put her hands up to her face to protect herself. He tried to take hold of her as if to slit her throat", said Mr Kershaw.
"He struck one knife against a wall so hard it bent at a right angle.
"He went to collect two more knives as Miss Richards tried to escape.
"She was dragged to the landing and stabbed in the leg." Miss Richards suffered 20 wounds to her face, leg, groin and torso.
The court heard Banks refused to call an ambulance and threatened to kill himself.
As Miss Richards passed out, Banks read her text messages while bingeing on lager, vodka and cocaine.
Miss Richards told the court she left him because she did not love him anymore.
"He didn't take it well. He cried a lot and begged me to go back."
On December 28 Banks collected Miss Richards from Yorkshire Bank in Halifax, where she works.
"I said I was going upstairs to collect some of my things. He pushed me over and down the stairs.
"I grabbed the bannister but he kicked my hand off. He threw himself on to me. I was hurt and upset. I bent down to pick up the phone but he started kicking me. Blows were coming down on my head and body.
"He went downstairs and came back with a knife in each hand. I was really shocked.
"One was the pointed cake knife, another the bread knife with a serated blade.
"I asked what he was going to do with them. I remember him holding my head and slashing across my neck.
"I thought I was going to die. I had a loud ringing in my ears. I could see myself lying on the floor and I had double vision."
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Friday 10 February 2012
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