RECEPTIONIST Cheryl Chadwick was scarred for life by her ex-lover in a terrifying climax to his stalking campaign.

She and boyfriend Brian Reid (pictured) were attacked by her ex with a kitchen knife and an iron bar in the bedroom of her Bury home.

And, as spurned lover Robin Saunders started a four-year jail sentence this week, Miss Chadwick said: "He was obsessed with me and used to stalk me. Seeing him in court for the first time since the incident just made me feel sick inside."

"I needed five hours of surgery for my injuries and I still have flashbacks about that night. It was a terrifying experience I will never forget."

The 38-year-old Bury College receptionist was accompanied to Liverpool Crown Court by her boyfriend, Mr Reid (43) who was also injured in the attack. "Brian saved my life. But for him I would be dead," she said.

Miss Rowena Goode, prosecuting, said that the attack in the early hours of December 2 was the culmination of a number of incidents between Saunders and Miss Chadwick.

Their stormy relationship began in October, 1995, but ended when Miss Chadwick walked out on Saunders after he pulled a knife on her during a row for the second time.

Last autumn Miss Chadwick met Brian Reid and a relationship developed. Meanwhile, Saunders kept harassing her with telephone calls and on December 1 said he was calling for some of his belongings.

She told him she would leave them with a neighbour and when he called at her home in Nelson Street, Bury, that night she refused to answer the door. But Saunders had been through her dustbin and found a piece of paper with the address of Mr Reid's former wife, Christine, in Blackburn and he drove there and pushed his way in, subjecting her to two hours of abuse.

He was ordered out by her son, only to return to Miss Chadwick's home armed with a 18-inch iron bar, smashing a kitchen window to get in.

Saunders attacked the couple in their bedroom, and as Mr Reid tried to disarm him, Miss Chadwick fled downstairs and called the police.

Saunders came after her, lunging at her with a kitchen knife he had grabbed. She protected herself with a cushion, but the attack left permanent scars and nerve damage to her arms.

Mr Reid, too, was cut trying to wrestle the knife from their attacker. He only managed to subdue Saunders by repeatedly hitting him over the head with the iron bar. Saunders fled but was arrested nearby. Defence counsel Mr Richard Vardon said that aircraft engineer Saunders had no previous convictions.

He had been "devoted" to her and was in a "state of emotional turmoil" about being apparently replaced in her affections.

He had been drinking that night and because of his head injuries he has little recollection of the incident, said Mr Vardon. "He is deeply ashamed of his behaviour."

Saunders, of Branch Street, Stacksteads, Bacup, admitted wounding her with intent and aggravated burglary.

He denied attempted murder and this was dropped.

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