A MAN carried out a sustained attack on his estranged wife in front of a customer at the hairdressers' shop where she worked.

Glen David Lawrence was yesterday jailed for three years after Durham Crown Court was told how his terrified wife feared she would be killed in the ordeal.

Andrew Walker, prosecuting, said Lawrence turned up at D & A Hairdressers, in Fence Houses, near Chester-le-Street, as his wife, Clair, was dealing with a customer.

He punched her in the face and dragged her by the hair into a back room, where he rained more blows with both fists and feet.

He then cut both her arms several times with a craft knife.

His parting shot was a further kick to the ribs, as he left his wife in a pool of blood.

She managed to pick herself up and ran to her mother's house nearby to call the emergency services.

Following the attack, Lawrence, who was described as of previous good character, walked into a police station and told officers what he had done, handing over the knife.

He told police officers he had acted on instinct and said he "wanted to get her back for nine years of marriage".

Euan Duff, representing Lawrence, said he was suffering a depressive illness at the time, which was exacerbated by the marital problems.

Lawrence, of Sevenoaks Drive, Sunderland, admitted wounding with intent