A “FRENZIED” man grabbed a woman and slit her throat while she was relaxing in the bath, a court heard.

Liam Hanley, 32, is accused of stabbing his partner Sarah Harries 39 times, leaving her with life-threatening injuries at her flat in Sussex Wharf in Shoreham in September.

Lewes Crown Court heard that blood was left spattered throughout the bathroom, living room and kitchen of the flat, and into the communal stairs outside as Hanley fled.

On the telephone to 999 operators she said “I’m going to die,” as blood poured from her wounds.

Armed police were called in and Shoreham was shut down as they tried to find Hanley, who later handed himself in to police in Slough.

His trial at Lewes Crown Court opened with Rachel Beckett, prosecuting, outlining the case to the jury.

Ms Beckett said the couple returned to the flat to play Monopoly and eat pizza for dinner.

She said: “The attack was completely out of the blue. Ms Harries had just washed her hair in the bath and was relaxing when the defendant came in.

“He grabbed her by the hair. She said he had a look in his eye she had not seen before. He did not look like the man she had fallen in love with. She was in shock trying to fight him off.

“He slit her throat and tried to push her under the water then continued to attack her. The attack was frenzied, she received some 39 separate stab wounds, including to her neck, face, chest, and abdomen.

“She also had stab wounds to her arms and hands as she tried to protect herself.”

The harrowing 999 call from Ms Harries was played in court. She named Liam Hanley as her attacker in the phone call.

Ms Beckett said paramedics found her bleeding heavily and holding her neck, and said a six-inch knife was found with his blood on the handle and her blood on the blade.

The nature of her wounds meant they could not have been caused from self-harm, she said.

She added: “Our case is that the wounds were inflicted by the defendant in a ferocious attack on his partner. It was sudden and violent. He intended to kill Sarah Harries that evening.”

Hanley, of no fixed address, wore a grey Emporio Armani sweatshirt in court, and listened intently to the prosecution opening. He denies attempted murder, the trial continues.