A "MANIAC" who broke into a house and stabbed two people in a fit of jealous rage has escaped a life sentence.

Instead, Martin Walker, 27, of Allingham Close, Hanwell, was jailed for ten years at Harrow Crown Court after he climbed through a window of the home belonging to his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend, stabbing him and his brother three times each on March 30 this year.

The self-confessed drug addict originally denied planning the attacks on Brian Turnland, 37, of Byron Road, Harrow, and his brother Richard, 30, but was found guilty of two counts of wounding with intent by a jury on August 10.

The court heard he was "jealous and paranoid" of Mr Turner's relationship with Joanne Belcher, 22, whom Walker believed was three months pregnant with his child.

During the assault Mr Turnland's brother, Richard, also was stabbed, suffering a punctured lung.

Sentencing him to serve a minimum of five years on Thursday, Judge Alan Greenwood said Walker posed a "high risk" to members of the public because of his background.

"This was an extremely serious offence motivated by jealousy," he said. "You climbed through the window of Brian Turnland's home in order to attack him. Once there you stabbed him with a knife and once his brother intervened you stabbed him too."

Judge Greenwood said he did not feel a life sentence was appropriate, instead giving him a ten and eight-year sentence to run concurrently.

He said: "Because you have already been convicted of burglary I am required by law to expect that there is a significant risk to the public of you committing further offences.

"I do not have very much choice in imposing imprisonment for public protection."

Walker had written a letter to the judge pleading for leniency, calling his own actions "wholly unacceptable".

But the judge told the court: "He has expressed remorse but that would be that much more effective if he had not contested the matter and necessitated the giving of evidence by the two brothers and by Joanne Belcher, which must have been quite difficult for her."

Walker, who has a long history of criminal activity with 21 previous offences, will now remain of license for the rest of his life.

In 2002 he was jailed for three-and-a-half years for his part in another knife attack, robbing a man at knifepoint in the Railway Pub, Greenford.

In December he was given nine months for burglary while out on licence.

And in July this year he was sentenced for a further nine months after being caught supplying cannabis while in prison.

Investigating officer PC Tom Hanford, said: "The evidence is even if you lock him up he offends. He is a very dangerous person. I have no doubt he will commit crimes again."

Walker carried out the stabbings again after he had been released from prison on licence.

PC Hanford continued: "A lot of people have a difficult time but they don't turn into maniacs. He will be looking at life next time."

Defence counsel Nichola Cafferkey said Walker had been "jealous and paranoid" and was a "high risk to himself" because he had been self-harming.

"He is a particularly vulnerable man emotionally," she said. "Any lengthy sentence he serves is something he would find particularly difficult considering his low emotional state."