A BASINGSTOKE man has been jailed for life after he set fire to his ex-partner's home and held a knife to her throat.

Kyle Butler, 29, from Cannon Close, Ellisfield, stood trial at Winchester Crown Court accused of attempted murder. The trial began on Monday, March 27 and lasted just over a week.

Officers were called to an address in Butler Close in Basingstoke at 6.34am on Friday, June 24, last year. They found a woman in her 20s with non-life-threatening injuries.

Butler had already pleaded guilty to a charge of wounding with intent and arson in relation to the incident.

The court heard that he stabbed his ex-partner three times with a knife he had purchased and set fire to her home.

READ MORE: Butler Close: Man found guilty of attempting to murder his ex-partner

On Wednesday, April 5, the jury found Butler guilty of attempted murder after deliberating for around three hours.

On Tuesday, May 30, Judge Angela Morris sentenced Butler at the same court to life in prison. He must serve a minimum term of 19 years and 31 days. 

Prosecutor Kerry Maylin said: "He (Butler) entered her bedroom where she (Butler's ex-partner) was sleeping. Having gained entry into the bedroom he held a knife to her throat. He threatened to kill her, he phoned his sister.

"The evidence heard that Mr Butler had been the one to say he was going to slit her throat."

She continued: "On police attendance, it became apparent he had barricaded the stairs and he had indeed also set light to a grey towel.

"It was clear that in another bedroom a second fire had been set."

She told the court a number of police officers were called to the scene, one of them, PC James Pawley, was stabbed in his hand.

SEE ALSO: Butler Close: Man who stabbed partner wanted to end his own life

During the sentencing Butler's ex-partner read out an impact statement.

She said: "My life completely changed for the worse, leading up to the incident I did not feel safe and I was always worried Butler would find me."

She told the court she was an "emotional wreck" after the incident and was left without a home.

She continued: "The night after I could not sleep. When I closed my eyes I pictured him with the knife. I still see this now."

While PC Pawley's impact statement was read by Ms Maylin. It said: "It is hard to put into words the effect it has, there are countless things running through my head, the impact it has on my day-to-day life and the despair, my family, had."

He said he has lost full use of his middle finger.

In mitigation Tom Broomfield told the court Butler starting the fire was an "act of desperate stupidity" and an "idiotic thing to have done". 

READ ALSO: Butler Close: 'Man set fire to ex-partner's home and stabbed her'

He said: "An important part of the sentence is to punish Butler for the harm that he recognises and accepts and is extremely remorseful. The court must not lose sight of the other purpose which is rehabilitation. For that, there needs to be a chance perhaps one day for Mr Butler to be able to contribute positively to society once more and for him to build a relationship with their children he must be afforded some hope."

Sentencing, Judge Morris said: "Armed with the hawksbill knife, you place it at the throat of your sleeping partner. Her impact statement describes the terror she felt waking up to find you with that knife at her throat. It is every woman's nightmare and understandably, her fear continues today."

She told the court that by the time police gained access Butler had "set fire to a bath towel and a mattress in a bedroom" and the floor was "barricaded with items".

She described the incident as a "premeditated, planned and weaponised attack" and said Butler's "primary intention was to kill" his ex-partner.