Factory worker, Cezary Sobiewski, was today jailed for life with a minimum of 20 years, for murdering his partner who wanted to leave him.

Barbara Baraniecka was repeatedly stabbed 13 times by Sobiewski during an argument in which she frantically fought for her life.

She was attacked on the bed and repeatedly stabbed but still managed to lock herself in the bathroom of their home in Standbridge Way, Tipton, on November 12th. However Mr Sobiewski also battered that door down as the terrified victim knelt behind it.

Once inside he resumed the ruthless knifing but blood stained footmarks showed that she managed to stagger to another bedroom and tried desperately to shut out her attacker. She was forced back onto the bed where Sobiewski sat astride her to deliver the fatal blows.

She had 13 stab wounds and 40 slash wounds, many of which were to her hands and arms as she battled to protect herself, the court heard. The most serious wounds were to the throat and neck where a main artery was severed.

Mr Christopher Hotten, prosecuting, said:

“The attack was sustained, determined and merciless. There is no doubt, from a large kitchen knife he used together with the location and severity of the wounds, that [Sobiewski] intended to kill her and make her suffer.

“The victim must have known for some considerable time that her life was at risk from the attack. One can only imagine her feelings as the doors were forced and she was further attacked.

“We will never know the precise circumstances in which the attack took place but it was founded on the breakdown of the relationship and fuelled by his possessiveness towards her.”

The court heard how Sobiewski moved from his home in America to live with the victim in 2010, but by the time of the attack she wanted to end the relationship because of his heavy drinking. After the attack ended, he left the house with Miss Baraniecka's dead body lying on the bed to go to a supermarket and buy four cans of cider.

He returned ten minutes later and waited for almost three hours – during which time he accepted a parcel from the postman – until the victim’s eldest daughter came home from work and found her mother's body.