A MAN who tried to kill his estranged wife by strangling her as she worked in an intensive care unit has been jailed for 15 years.

Royston Jones, aged 39, of Heol Helig in Brynmawr, was found guilty of the attempted murder of nurse Claire Jones following a week-long trial at Newport Crown Court earlier this month.

The jury returned a unanimous verdict of guilty for the charge of attempted murder in just one hour 26 minutes.

Jones had already pleaded guilty to two counts of damaging property, one count of assault by beating, and one count of affray.

At Cardiff Crown Court today, Judge Eleri Rees sentenced Jones to a total of 15 years' imprisonment.

Bare-chested Jones attempted to kill his wife of more than 10 years by strangling her at the intensive care unit of Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny on September 5 last year where she was working as a nurse.

The court heard how "heroic" colleagues and hospital staff came to her aid and managed to restrain 6ft-tall Jones, saving her life.

The jury heard how the "muscular", 15-stone former delivery driver was addicted to mephedrone and had taken 14 grams of the drug in just two hours before arriving at the hospital where he attacked the mother of his three children, attempting to strangle her twice.

Mrs Jones, 35, was left unconscious and was blue in the face after the attack.

Giving evidence in his trial, Jones said he loved his wife and "would never hurt Claire, never in a million years".

But the court heard how, following his arrest, Jones told police he would "finish it" after his release from prison.

Hilary Roberts, defending, said: "It was an appalling tale. It must have been truly horrific not only for Claire Jones but for others involved.

"He is mortified by what he has done. He still loves his wife.

"He has no memory of those events and cannot conceive an intention to harm her let alone kill her."

DI Leigh Mears, of Gwent Police, said it was both "a very frightening and disturbing incident in a place that is supposed to be a place of safety".

He added: "We must acknowledge the bravery of staff at Nevill Hall Hospital - colleagues of the victim - for stepping in as they did, which undoubtedly prevented further serious harm to the victim.

"We would like to recognise the strength and courage of the victim and others in supporting this investigation."

Jeff Mark, Senior Crown Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service Wales, said: “Royston Jones attacked Claire Jones in a deliberate and highly vicious manner.

"There is little doubt that he intended to kill her and he would very likely have succeeded, were it not for the swift and heroic actions of staff at Nevill Hall Hospital."