A man who tried to murder his former lover in front of her colleagues in a supermarket has been handed an extended 12-year sentence.
Ben Jenkins carried out the "appalling" attack on Louise McGarry, 25, following the end of their relationship and stabbed her several times with a knife.
Lord Mulholland praised the heroism of Ms McGarry's colleagues Scott McNally and Angela McIlroy for dragging Jenkins away and saving her life.
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Jenkins, 35, was sentenced to eight years in prison and a further four years extended sentence at the High Court in Dundee.
Lord Mulholland also made him the subject of a lifelong non-harassment order after hearing Ms McGarry had requested continued protection from her ex-partner.
The judge said: "You pled guilty to attempting to murder your former partner at her place of work. You repeatedly tried to contact her, despite being told to back off.
"You made your way to her place of work and, despite being told by her colleague that she did not want to see or speak to you, you pretended you just wanted to say hello to her.
"This was a lie, as your intention was to kill her.
"You continued trying to find her and when you came across her in a corridor in the staff area you subjected her to a brutal attack with a knife.
"She had to be rescued by two of her colleagues who pulled you off her to protect her from further violence. You were disarmed by her colleagues Scott McNally and Angela McIlroy, and I commend them for their bravery.
"Had they not intervened, you could have been facing a charge of murder, as your intention was to kill her. She could have died had she not received prompt medical attention and treatment.
"You have a criminal record which is alarming, with convictions aggravated by involving domestic abuse towards partners. There are five domestic offences involving four different partners.
"This was a clear escalation. In sentencing you, I take into account the circumstances of this appalling crime and the effect on the victim."
Counsel for Jenkins, Rosalyn McTaggart, said: "It was an extremely distressing event, not only for the complainer, but the public at large, and those witnesses who put themselves in harms way in order to come to the aid of Ms McGarry."
Jenkins was caught prowling the aisles of the Tesco store in Rutherglen looking for his victim on July 9 last year.
The 35-year-old then stormed into a staff area and pounced on Ms McGarry, stabbing her in the neck, abdomen and arm. The attack only ended when her colleagues intervened.
Prosecutor Margaret Barron told how the pair began dating in February 2022 but then split in late June.
On the day of the attack, the woman told a female colleague that Jenkins had been "constantly messaging" her, and that she had warned him to "back off" or she was calling the police.
Jenkins, of Johnstone in Renfrewshire, was captured on CCTV entering the Tesco store at 1pm.
Miss Barron said: "He walked towards the back of the store before walking up and down aisles. He did not pick up a basket or appear to be shopping."
The bakery section worker was told her ex was in the shop, and Miss Barron said she "appeared to be frightened."
Minutes later, Jenkins barged into the staff area of the bakery department clutching a multi-tool knife.
The female colleague followed and said the woman did not want to speak to him. He insisted he only "wanted to say hello."
Jenkins discovered his terrified former partner "hiding in a corridor."
Miss Barron explained that as he entered, Jenkins immediately dropped his backpack and started attacking the woman with the knife.
The female colleague then started shouting for another member of staff to come and assist.
Jenkins yanked up the victim's top and stabbed her in the stomach, and ripped out her hearing implant.
Miss Barron said that Ms McIlroy jumped on Jenkins and tried to restrain him, before Mr McNally rushed in to help and managed to remove the knife.
Jenkins was held by the Tesco staff until police arrived, while other staff gave the blood-soaked victim first aid. Customers were evacuated from the store.
Describing the impact of the ordeal, the advocate depute said: "She may have died had she not received medical attention and treatment.
"The wounds will result in scarring. The assault has resulted in her suffering from PTSD, anxiety and depression. She is afraid to go out and has not been able to work since."
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