Attacker given life sentence

11:25am Tuesday 26th August 2008

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A jealous ex-boyfriend who tried to kill the man he wrongly thought was his former partner's new lover was jailed for life today.

Ian Holland, 33, spied on his ex-girlfriend Lisa Cebral having a late-night cup of tea with Adam Dickson before following him back to his parent's home in Margaret Road, Adderbury, and attacking him.

'It was a horrific offence with a high level of violence used against the victim and it took great courage for the witnesses to come forward'

Det Sgt Steve Duffy

He was convicted of attempted murder last month and sentenced today.

At Oxford Crown Court, Holland was given life but told he would have to serve a minimum of seven years in prison before he was considered for parole.

During his trial, the jury heard that Holland left Mr Dickson lying unconscious on the driveway in a pool of blood after the attack in June last year.

The jury took more that seven-and-a-half hours to find Holland, of Edinburgh Way, Banbury, guilty of attempted murder by a majority of ten to one.

Det Sgt Steve Duffy, of Banbury CID, said: "This was a very difficult investigation that relied on people from the community coming forward to give their evidence. Without them, Ian Holland would not have been brought to justice.

"It was a horrific offence with a high level of violence used against the victim and it took great courage for the witnesses to come forward, for which we are entirely grateful.

"Holland is an obsessive and controlling man and believed his victim had been involved with his ex-partner. He followed him home to his address in Twyford and struck him about the head with a blunt instrument causing very serious skull fractures.

"The victim was in a coma for two weeks following the attack, but has since made a miraculous recovery. However, he is still suffering from the after-effects of the assault more than 12 months on and I wish him all the best with his rehabilitation."