A MAN who repeatedly stabbed his gay lover after suspecting him of being unfaithful has been jailed for nine years.

James Bronson knifed his boyfriend 13 times after going out earlier to check up on Giann Vialli.

When the pair were back at the flat he launched a knife attack and the victim only managed to call for help once Bronson had fallen asleep.

A judge handing down the prison term on the 50-year-old told him: "This was a most horrendous attack. I would not be doing my public duty if I didn't impose a lengthy sentence."

Bronson, of Regent Road, Morecambe, had pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Mr Vialli, who was around 25 years his junior.

At one time he faced a charge of attempted murder.

Preston Crown Court heard that the two men had had an eight year homosexual relationship and had moved to Morecambe, where Mr Vialli was a supervisor at a chicken factory.

Mr Steven Johnson, prosecuting, said he worked a 2pm to 10pm shift while Bronson was not working due to ill health. He was on medication for depression and drinking heavily.

"Although the two men shared the same bed and apparently were in a stable relationship, Mr Vialli considered himself bisexual," said Mr Johnson.

"In September last year he struck up a relationship with a woman and they began to see each other after work."

Mr Johnson added: "The defendant began to suspect Mr Vialli was having an affair. He decided to check up on him."

In the early hours of October 29, Mr Vialli was walking home from the woman's house together with her and her brother when Bronson, who had been drinking, confronted them.

Mr Vialli agreed to go home with him, but back at the flat Bronson was irate and began drinking again.

He said that Mr Vialli could remember getting out of bed at around 3.30am but his next memory was coming to on the bedroom floor covered in blood.

He had been stabbed 13 times with a kitchen knife to the chest, arm, thigh and abdominal wall.

Bronson had previous convictions for violence, including a three-year sentence in 1981 for stabbing a boyfriend in the leg. In 1986, he was made the subject of a hospital order for making threats to kill and attempted wounding with intent.

Judge Edward Slinger said: "It is quite clear this was a frenzied and continuing attack. It is only thanks to the great skills of those who dealt with him that Mr Vialli is still alive."