A MAN has admitted trying to murder the mother of his children by stabbing her repeatedly in front of their four-year-old daughter.

Michael Alexander Saunders, 48, of Leven, Freshbrook, pleaded guilty to attempted murder of his girlfriend Zoe Fotheringham, who suffered a punctured lung and arterial bleeding in the attack at the couple’s home in December of last year.

He appeared at Bristol Crown Court yesterday wearing a cream jumper and jeans, and speaking only to confirm his name and enter his guilty plea.

At an earlier hearing the court was told the couple, who had been together for six years and have two children, aged 18 months and four years, had been arguing on the night of the incident.

Miss Fotheringham was said to have asked Saunders to leave before she was reportedly stabbed ten times in the bathroom with a large kitchen knife.

The sole witness, the couple’s four-year-old daughter, was interviewed by specialist police in the immediate wake of the attack.

At Swindon Magistrates’ Court in December prosecutor Emma Handslip said: “There was a strain in the relationship and she had asked him to leave on the night of the offence.

“She had been out before an argument started between them.

“She left the bedroom and went into the bathroom and was sat down on the toilet.

“He entered with a big kitchen knife and stabbed her 10 times.

“Her injuries included arterial bleeding and a punctured lung.”

At yesterday’s hearing, prosecutor Simon Edwards said: “The basis of plea satisfies the indictment. Clearly both parties have a view as to why the relationship soured.”

Defending Rob Ross said he had commissioned a psychiatric report on Saunders and asked the case be adjourned for this and a Probation Service pre-sentence report to be carried out.

The case was adjourned for the reports to be produced and Saunders was remanded in custody to be sentenced on April 23 at Bristol Crown Court.