A jealous man murdered his pregnant girlfriend by thrusting a broken glass in her face and then repeatedly stabbing her before attacking two children who were also in the house.

Former probationary policeman Jonathan Sutton exploded into violence after Emma Siswick told him their relationship was over when he challenged her about an innocent message on her phone.

The painter and decorator had been drinking and taken M-cat before he launched a sustained attack in which he inflicted 81 separate cuts and stab wounds.

After smashing a glass on a work surface he sat next to the special needs teaching assistant on a sofa at their home in Reinwood Road, Huddersfield and plunged it into her face several times.

He then stabbed her repeatedly with a 19.5cm kitchen knife including three deep wounds to her chest and 10 to her back, several penetrated her ribs they were inflicted with such force the tip was damaged, Bryan Cox QC prosecuting told Leeds Crown Court today.

The 37-year-old made desperate attempts to escape without success and when an 11-year-old boy heard her calls for help, Sutton turned his attentions towards him.

Murder victim Emma Mansell, whose married name was Emma Siswick

He cornered the terrified schoolboy by a laundry basket and in a frenzy stabbed him in the arm, shoulder, chest and scalp.

Mr Cox said Sutton then attacked a second child, a nine-year-old boy, aiming for his neck as he cowered on the stairs. By then he was using a second knife measuring 20 centimetres and the tip broke as he stabbed the youngster as well as stamping on him.

He only stopped when he heard the voice of a third child in the house. By then the first boy had managed to run out screaming for help.

When paramedics and police arrived they discovered the scene of horror in the house. The body of his victim in the basement kitchen and the other injured child.

Sutton had tried to cut his own throat with a further knife and was Tasered to prevent him making the wound bigger.

The 40-year-old admitted murdering his partner and wounding the two boys with intent to cause them grievous bodily harm. He was jailed for life on all three charges and showed no emotion has he was led from the dock.

Mr Justice Edis told him he must serve a minimum of 28 years in prison for the murder before considered for release, that being increased to also reflect the “dreadful offences” against the children.

“In doing that I have recognised the irreparable harm that you have done to people who are still alive as well as the death you have caused.”

He said when police arrived they found blood everywhere.

“The attacks on the children were truly horrific.” They had been left not only with physical scars to remind them. “We can only speculate about the mental scars.”

He said although Emma and Sutton had discussed her having a termination to her recently discovered pregnancy the murder had also deprived any chance that child had of ever being born.

“You were an obsessively jealous man who lost his temper.”

The sentence also reflected the “brutality of the attack which began with a glass being used as a weapon and thrust into her face and was followed by many, many, many blows with the knife.”

The couple had been in a relationship for over three years but Emma had told friends leading up to May 18 it had become strained with him abusing drink and drugs.

Neighbours spoke of hearing arguments.

Floral tributes placed outside home of Emma Mansell
Floral tributes placed outside home of Emma Mansell

Mr Cox said women with whom Sutton had had relationships in the past described him as paranoid and controlling. One said if she looked at another man he thought she was having an affair.

Jamie Hill QC representing Sutton said he had personality traits which made him overly dependent and jealous in his relationships. “He was emotionally insecure and prone to being suspicious and jealous.”

“His way of coping with his personality was to have drink and on occasions drugs.”

They rowed over the phone message and he said something snapped when she said the relationship was over.  “He does wish me to indicate he is wracked with remorse.”

Sutton was said to have had various past employments including salesman and probationary police officer for 18 months.