Construction worker arraigned in court for beating up his girlfriend after finding her in bed with love rival

West Sussex, England: A jealous ex beat his ex-girlfriend and her new lover around the head after finding them in bed together.

Liam Coaker burst into his former partner's home in the early hours of the morning armed with the steel club and found her under the covers with a love rival, a court heard.

The 32-year-old beat the man around the head so hard that the club's head broke off.

When it did, he simply continued to stab at the pair with the sharpened end of the club shaft until the woman's family came to the rescue and held him back.

Both the 28-year-old woman and her male lover, 27, suffered serious injuries during the brutal and bloody attack, which have left permanent scars.

The man's injuries were so life-threatening he had to be airlifted to nearby Royal Sussex County Hospital, a judge was told.

The horrific attack happened at the woman's house in King Georges Avenue, East Grinstead, West Sussex, on July 27 last year.

Coaker, of St Leonard's Park, East Grinstead, admitted two counts of grievous bodily harm and was jailed for nine years and eight months when he appeared before a judge at Lewes Crown Court today.

Speaking after the hearing, Detective Constable Stuart MacPherson from Sussex Police said: "Police inquiries began and Coaker was swiftly traced and arrested.

"This was a most brutal and sustained attack and but for the intervention of family members the injuries could have been even worse.

"Although both victims have made recoveries they will have scarring injuries for life.

"The court heard of previous violent assaults carried out by Coaker on other people, and the sentence today reflects the seriousness which with Judge Richard Hayward viewed his offending."