England star's father is jailed

The father of England football star Ledley King was jailed for four and a half years today for taking a former lover and two children hostage at knifepoint.

Herbert Patterson, 44, slashed Janet Mainwaring across the jaw with a ten-inch blade and punched her repeatedly in front of a friend's sons, aged four and five. Ms Mainwaring suffered a broken nose, had three teeth knocked out and needed 11 stitches.

Police negotiated the release of the boys 90 minutes into the siege in March but Ms Mainwaring was held for a further three hours before escaping from her home in Leytonstone.

Patterson pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and wounding but, said Mr Recorder David Batcup, was unable to offer an explanation for his actions. The judge said: "You beat her in the presence of two young boys who must have been terrified. It must have been terrifying for Ms Mainwaring as well."

Sheelagh Canavan, prosecuting, told Snaresbrook Crown Court that Patterson had arrived at the house convinced Ms Mainwaring had been sleeping with another man and had flown into a jealous rage although their relationship had ended five years earlier.