A man has been jailed for 20 years for a “vicious and sustained attack” with a pair of scissors on his ex-partner in Sidcup while her three young children slept upstairs.

Connor Fox, 38, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Jemma Foot on the first day of his trial at Inner London Crown Court earlier this year.

Both he and Miss Foot are deaf.

He was sentenced to 20 years in prison today, with a further five years to be served on extended license.

He has also been made subject to a hospital and restriction order under section 45A of the Mental Health Act.

Miss Foot, 24, was attacked by Fox at her home in Cleve Road, Sidcup, at 11.30pm on April 24 last year.

She was inside her home with her partner, Keith Cooper, when Fox kicked open the kitchen door.

He attacked her with a pair of scissors, stabbing her more than 20 times in her eyes, face, throat, shoulder, arms and legs.

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The scene in Cleve Road after the incident

Mr Cooper attempted to intervene but he too was attacked, receiving injuries to his head and neck.

Fox ran off into the back garden, discarding the scissors, before climbing into neighbouring gardens and walking off.

On April 26, London Fire Brigade attended a shed fire at a group of allotments a short distance from Cleve Road.

The fire was put out and the police were called.

While there an allotment user found a noose hanging from a gazebo.

A search of the area was undertaken and Fox was found hiding in a shed with a pair of scissors in his hand.

He was detained and arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

A major artery in Miss Foot's neck was severed, causing her to suffer a major stroke that has left her paralysed down one side and wheelchair-bound.

After today's verdict, she said: "I'm very pleased with the sentencing overall and with the judge's decision.

"My children, my family and I can now start a new chapter and move on from the nightmare that started 18 months ago.

"Justice has now been served. We thank everyone who have supported us along the way."

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The scene in Cleve Road after the incident

Baljit Ubhey, chief crown prosecutor for CPS London, said: "This was a vicious and sustained attack which has caused devastating and life-changing injuries to the victim.

"Connor Fox went to the victim’s home in Sidcup shortly before midnight on April 24, 2014.

"He hid in the darkness of the garden before he entered through the back door and began a frenzied and murderous attack on the victim with a pair of scissors.

"Fox clearly intended to kill his victim, a fact which he belatedly accepted through his late guilty plea.

"During the course of the attack he targeted some of the most vulnerable areas of her body, stabbing her 12 times to the neck and face.

"Fox’s attack was all the more devastating due to the victim being profoundly deaf and unable to speak.

"He deliberately targeted her eyes in an attempt to blind her. 

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Connor Fox

"A stab wound to her neck led to her suffering a major stroke which has left her paralysed on the left side of her body.

"The victim’s ability to communicate has been severely compromised as she can no longer sign with both hands.

"I would like to praise her courage in attending court ready to give evidence even though she was spared having to do so by the defendant’s guilty plea on the first day of trial."

Detective Constable Jonathan Potter, of the Met Police’s homicide and major crime command, said: "This was one of the most violent and heinous crimes I have witnessed in my service, especially to a vulnerable deaf woman who thought she was safe in her own home.

"The attack was particularly sickening as the defendant intentionally tried to blind the already deaf victim during the incident.

"The victim remained courageous and determined to see justice served through to the bitter end, and was very happy with the sentencing that was passed."