A transgender woman attacked her boyfriend with a knife, pair of scissors and a fork after he "unfriended" her on Facebook and changed his status to "single". William Hanz De Veyra Arriesgado, a 25-year-old Filipino who had a sex change but could not change her name under her country's laws, was sentenced to two years in jail yesterday for causing her Australian lover grievous hurt.

Commenting on the 16 separate and serious injuries inflicted on 47-year-old bank worker Colin James Peady, District Judge Eugene Teo said: "The grievous assault - even if haphazard - was sustained and determined; persisting even after the victim had fallen over in a heap."

The couple first quarrelled about Mr Peady's Facebook status while in a pub at Duxton Road on Feb 26 last year. Mr Peady headed back to his rented Sunhaven condominium in Changi alone. When Arriesgado, who was on a social visit pass, reached the home at 9pm, she found herself locked out as she did not have her keys. Mr Peady was reluctant to let her in but finally relented. However, they started arguing again. Arriesgado grabbed a knife with a 20cm-long blade, which was in the bedroom, and stabbed and slashed Mr Peady repeatedly.

He was left with stab wounds to his abdomen and cuts to other parts of his body, including his face and eyes.

When Mr Peady ran out to the lift landing, Arriesgado came at him again, this time armed with with a pair of scissors and a fork. After the Australian managed to get to the ground floor, Arriesgado raked Mr Peady's face with the fork.

Arriesgado, who pleaded guilty in September, could have been jailed for up to 10 years and caned.