A jilted husband who strangled his wife until she blacked out after she said she was leaving him has been jailed for two years.

Robert Tait, 56, put a rope around the neck of his partner Bernadette, 48, after telling her he was going to kill her.

With "eyes bulging", he then pulled it so tight she lost consciousness and collapsed on the floor of their kitchen.

A court heard how Tait had snapped after his wife told him two days earlier she was going to set up home with local publican Robin Gosling.

After the attack he rang 999 and told police he thought he had killed his wife.

Officers who raced to the scene in Barnhorn Road, Bexhill, found Tait weeping on the stairs and clutching the couple's dog but his wife was still alive.

Neil Saunders, prosecuting, told Lewes Crown Court Tait had been working away from home when he learnt of his wife's intentions in June 2000.

He said: "In August 1999, Mrs Tait felt the couple had drifted apart and she became friendly with Mr Gosling.

"They decided they were going to leave their respective partners and live together.

"In the days before the incident, Mr Tait telephoned his wife to be told she was going to leave him.

"He said 'I don't know whether to kill you or commit suicide because I can't live without you'."

Tait, who has no previous convictions, admitted wounding with intent.

Peter Gower, defending, said: "He is absolutely devastated by what he has done. He doesn't know what came over him and still loves his wife dearly."