FORMER Swindon student Jordan Taylor has been jailed for a minimum of 23 years for murdering his ex-girlfriend in a frenzied attack.

The martial arts enthusiast, who attended New College stabbed 21-year-old Laura Davies at least 80 times after she ended their relationship in July last year.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard the attack at the Essex Horse and Pony Protection Society base in Basildon, Essex where she worked as a groom, was so forceful that the knife used was bent to a 45-degree angle.

Unemployed Jordan Taylor, 22, had denied the murder but was found guilty by a jury on Thursday.

Yesterday, Friday, Judge Charles Gratwicke, who described the killing as "brutal", jailed Taylor for life with a minimum tariff of 23 years.

The court heard Miss Davies ended their relationship moments before her death.

She had cooked a meal for Taylor in the flat they shared and told him that although the relationship was over, he could continue living there as she did not want to make him homeless.

Prosecutors said the attack began in the flat, then continued outside as she fled in her pyjamas.

CCTV footage showed the defendant attempting to hoist Miss Davies's near-lifeless body over a hedge out of view.

Her family said she had been unhappy after he had begun telling her what to wear, prevented her going out and had taken control of her bank account.

Giving evidence, her mother Dyanne Lambert said he would not allow her to wear short-sleeved or low-cut tops and they would often argue.

Ms Lambert added: "She became very quiet and didn't want to talk about what was going on."

Giving evidence on the third day of his trial, Taylor - who was born in Carlisle before moving to Annan in Scotland and then Swindon - described the moment he "stupidly" grabbed the knife with which he alleged his partner of six months had lunged at him.

He denied purposefully making "disfiguring" cuts to Miss Davies's face and left breast as "punishment" for trying to end the relationship before eventually killing her.

Punam Malhan, senior district crown prosecutor for East of England Crown Prosecution Service, said: "This was a vicious and sustained attack involving 80 separate wounds.

"Jordan Taylor's actions were a result of a jealous rage after Laura ended their relationship. His actions have needlessly ended a young woman's life and robbed her of any future."