Old Bailey: A Portuguese man, who flew more than a 1,000 miles to stab his wife 13 times, is being deported after being jailed for eight years.

Alvara Dacosta, aged 32, was ordered to return to his birthplace, Guinea-Bissau, in Africa, following the savage attack.

Dacosta flew from Lisbon to England to confront his wife Zaida, in Roundtable Road, Downham, after believing she was seeing another man.

He waited until she returned home with their three children before carrying out the sickening attack, which left her slumped in the bathroom bleeding from her wounds.

Wife Zaida spoke of her delight shortly after news of the deportation was revealed.

She said: "I would like to pay special thanks to the Metropolitan Police for all the good work done in investigating this case and also to my neighbour whose house I ran to for safety.

"I'm glad that Alvaro got eight years but I don't think it's enough, he should have got more. Not just because of what he did to me, but because of my niece and son who have both been left extremely traumatised by this.

"I feel a sense of relief and a lot safer knowing he is in jail and will also be deported. My children and I have suffered a lot and now it is time to move on and rebuild our lives."

Although the Home Office refused to confirm when Dacosta was due to be deported, it is thought his departure from Britain is imminent.

Det Con Bernie Galopin from Lewisham CID said: "Thanks to the care and vigilance of the victim's neighbours as well as their willingness to assist with the prosecution, it has been possible to see justice brought for this horrific and vicious attack.

"The hope now is the victim and her family can move on with their lives and overcome this traumatic ordeal.

"This case highlights just how seriously the Metropolitan Police Service views domestic violence and how determined the Metropolitan Police is to prosecute offenders while protecting and supporting the victims and their families of this type of crime."

October 23, 2001 10:30