A SALISBURY man stabbed a woman and tried to gouge her eyes out, before stabbing himself in the neck, a court has heard.

Simon Christopher Safe, aged 50, of Essex Square, Salisbury, attacked his ex-partner with a "bladed attachment from a food processor", in an incident in Norfolk Road in May last year.

The victim, who was in her 50s, suffered stab wounds to her neck, as well as bruising to her eyes where Safe had gouged them with his fingers.

Wiltshire Police confirmed that she went on to make a "good" recovery.

Mr Safe appeared at Winchester Crown Court and was sentenced to a hospital order with restrictions and a restraining order, meaning he will not be released until he is deemed safe to himself and the wider public.

The victim had recently ended her relationship with Safe and was back in Salisbury to collect some items from the home they had shared.

Safe had become angry and, when his pleas for her to change her mind had not worked, had injured himself with an iron.

This was an horrendous attack, which could very easily have been much more serious

The victim then agreed to drive him to his parents’ house to get medical assistance, but during the drive there he started to attack her with the bladed attachment, and grabbed the steering wheel, forcing the car to crash into parked vehicles in Norfolk Road.

People living nearby were alerted by her screams and managed to get her out of the vehicle and then restrain Safe, who had stabbed himself in the neck, until police arrived.

A High Sheriff's Award and £400 has been given to each of the two members of the public who came to the victim’s assistance and assisted in detaining the suspect until police arrived.

Det Con Roxanne Whitton, from Salisbury CID, said: “This was an horrendous attack, which could very easily have been much more serious, and has unsurprisingly left the victim with ongoing mental scars long after her physical injuries have healed.

“I would like to commend the incredibly brave actions of the witnesses who came to the aid of the victim, potentially saving her life and preventing Safe from causing further injury to both himself, his victim and the wider public.”

For advice and support about domestic violence and abuse, including information about charities and agencies that can help victims, please go to our website https://www.wiltshire.police.uk/article/1132/Domestic-Abuse