A MAN has admitted the attempted murder of a woman in Jaywick last year.

Kerry Roberts, 49, of no fixed address, appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court today where his trial was due to begin.

Instead he admitted the charge and the case was adjourned for sentencing.

A woman aged in her 40s was seriously and violently assaulted inside a property in Meadow Way at around 11.45pm on November 1, 2014.

She was left with serious injuries, caused by a meat cleaver and was taken to hospital in a critical condition.

She is now recovering but will be left with permanent physical and mental scars.

Senior investigating officer DI Anne Cameron said: "I am relieved Kerry Roberts has admitted his guilty, albeit at the start of his trial.

"He has saved the victim the trauma of having to relieve the events of that traumatic night in court.

"We were so lucky that we were not investigating a murder.”

Roberts will be sentenced tomorrow, Tuesday, March 3.