A CONTROL freak who stabbed his ￡5.5million Lotto winner girlfriend in the face before leaving her to die had previously knifed a child.

       Violent Stephen Gibbs, 45, has been jailed for viciously attacking ex Emma Brown - but it's now been revealed the brute stabbed an 11-year-old boy 16 years ago.

       2

       Stephen Gibbs stabbed an 11-year-old boy in 2005 after being dumped by his mum 2

       The 45-year-old has been jailed after knifing then girlfriend Emma Brown multiple times

       Gibbs stabbed Luke Hilberg, then 11, five times after his mum Nicola ended their nine-year relationship.

       The court heard how Nicola was the intended victim, but fuming Gibbs instead plunged a kitchen knife into Luke's back before stabbing himself and jumping off a multi-storey car park.

       Luke, now 28, told the Mirror: "I knew he'd attack again. A leopard never changes its spots.

       "When he doesn’t get his own way he’s not happy. He would start smashing things up."

       Vile Gibbs was jailed in 2005 for six years but was freed in 2009.

       He then began a relationship with Emma Brown, 50, in 2010 - but things took a turn for the worse when she scooped a Lotto jackpot in 2017 as controlling Gibbs resented the life-changing sum of money.

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       Instead of taking up her offer to travel the world, he became annoyed at Emma being "more in control of her own life".

       Gibbs also became convinced she was cheating on him and fitted a tracker on her Mercedes to keep tabs on her.

       When Emma told him she wanted to end their relationship, raging Gibbs grabbed her by the neck and slammed her against a wall.

       He then grabbed a nine-inch kitchen knife and stabbed terrified Emma in the face seven times.

       Horrifying CCTV showed a silhouette of the monster as he repeatedly knifed his girlfriend while she told him: "Tell my mother I love her."

       Gibbs then fled in Emma's car - leaving her dying on the patio of their luxury home in South Wales.

       JAILED

       She was only saved when neighbours heard a faint cry of "help, help" coming from the property.

       Gibbs has now been jailed for 13 years with a further five on licence after he pleaded guilty to attempted murder on the first day of his trial.

       Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard how Emma suffered multiple lacerations to her face, a fractured arm, bruising to her body, has partially lost the sight in her right eye and only has very limited sensation in her face.

       In a brave victim impact statement, she said: "We were together for 12 years, I never thought he was capable of doing something like this to me.

       “I used to be the life and soul of the party but now I can’t face being in a group of people. But I am conflicted because I’m also scared of being alone.

       “I’ve been left with a lazy eye which has affected my confidence - I don’t know if I will fully recover from what has happened."

       HOW YOU CAN GET HELP:

       Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:

       Always keep your phone nearby. Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine. If you are in danger, call 999. Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”. Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare. If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone. Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.

       If you are a -victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support -service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.

       Women’s Aid provides a live chat service - available every day from 10am-6pm.

       You can also call the freephone 24-hour -National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.