A THUG who stabbed another man to death in a frenzied attack in the street has started a life sentence.

Daniel Mazza was told by a judge that he would not be considered for release until he had served 15 years behind bars.

Mazza, of Clifton Gardens, Margate, had denied murdering David Gavin, claiming he was acting in self-defence when attacked with a knife.

But Judge Andrew Patience, QC, told the 24-year-old drug addict: "I am quite sure that David Gavin never had a knife that night when you killed him.

"That was, indeed, a cynical lie on your part, told in an effort to evade responsibility for what you did.

"Having lied consistently throughout 11 hours of painstaking interviews by police, you changed your story yet again to the one told in court to save your own skin, if you could."

Maidstone Crown Court heard during the two-week trial how Mazza went out armed with a knife up his sleeve after a row with his girlfriend Siobhan Laming.

He returned home and told her: "I hope you are happy now. I have f------ killed him. He is brown bread."

Mazza plunged the blade into 26-year-old Mr Gavin three times - once in the head and twice in the neck.

The victim staggered into his nearby basement flat in Athelstan Road, Margate, but bled to death in the lounge.

Cairns Nelson, prosecuting, said Mr Gavin was "no angel" and no stranger to the courts, but he was unarmed at the time.

The two men knew each other well, hanging around the town and drinking together.

On March 14 this year, Miss Laming saw that her boyfriend had a kitchen knife up the sleeve of his duffel coat.

Mazza later went to his local off-licence and bought cider, before returning home. He had also been drinking wine and lager.

Shortly after 5pm, Mazza and Miss Laming, who had a previous relationship with Mr Gavin, had an argument. She went out to calm things down and returned shortly afterwards.

Four minutes later, the victim lay dying on the floor of his home.

Mazza had amassed 63 convictions. He was released from a three-year prison sentence for robbery in November last year and was on licence when he committed the murder.

Judge Patience told Mazza: "This was a wicked and grave crime. You showed scant remorse for what you did and devastated the lives of David Gavin’s parents.

"You showed you are prepared to use violence when it suits you and stabbed David Gavin three times over a trivial argument."

The judge commended the work of Det Sgt Vicky Tyler, the investigating officer, for a thorough and painstaking inquiry.

Det Insp Dave Withers, of Kent Police’s Major Crime Unit, said: "Daniel Mazza is 24 years old. He had 64 previous convictions. In the past he has shown a total disregard for people's property and now, with a conviction for murder, he has shown he has a complete disregard for other people's lives.

"He used extreme violence and murdered David after a trivial argument. The sentencing of Mazza for the murder of David will hopefully bring some closure to the family for their tragic loss."

David Gavin senior, David’s father, who was in court for the sentencing, said: "I miss my son dearly and will always miss him. At least now justice has been done and Mazza will have to serve his time."