A pub chef who stabbed a woman on a night out - and was identified to police by his own mum - has avoided jail.

James Nangle was forced to hand himself in after the damning CCTV was circulated by detectives in April last year following the attack in Canterbury four months earlier.

Student Isabelle Hall suffered stab wounds to the upper right side of her body and to her right breast.

But this week Nangle, 29, avoided being sent to prison over the “inexplicable” attack - but must pay £1,000 in compensation to Ms Hall.

During his trial, the jury had heard how Nangle’s mum, who lives in Northern Ireland, was alerted to a KentOnline article about the CCTV appeal by his father, from whom she is divorced.

Having informed police, she then phoned her son to say she had told officers he would contact them.

Nangle, who worked at the Bishop’s Finger pub in the city, voluntarily went to a police station the next day and denied being involved in any assault.

But last month he was convicted by a jury of unlawful wounding.

Canterbury Crown Court heard he stabbed Ms Hall with a sharp implement as she was being punched and having her hair pulled by Elle McAllister outside Cousins Pool and Snooker Lounge in the early hours of December 8, 2021.

Outlining the case against Nangle at trial, prosecutor Kieran Brand said it was fortunate the victim had not suffered more serious injuries from the “sneaky and callous” stabs.

“Whilst at first blush it appeared that he was playing peacekeeper, the Crown say he himself slyly and spitefully assaulted Isabelle himself,” said Mr Brand.

“And they weren’t punches. They were blows using some sort of sharp implement. In short, this defendant stabbed her.”

Ms Hall had been socialising with friends in the city centre and was having a cigarette outside Cousins in the early hours when Nangle together with McAllister - who was assistant manager at the Bishop’s Finger - and another woman walked past.

A joke was shared between Ms Hall and Nangle. At that point, McAllister stopped, turned around and walked back towards Ms Hall, shouting “what’s your ******* issue?”, the jury heard.

Ms Hall replied she was just agreeing with what Nangle had said. McAllister, however, became more aggressive and moved closer.

Attempts were made to placate McAllister, but she responded by asking if Ms Hall “wanted a ******* fight”.

When Ms Hall reacted by telling McAllister to “**** off with her friends”, she was suddenly punched to her left cheekbone, grabbed by the hair and pulled downwards.

"I am baffled as to the reasons behind this attack. It's inexplicable..."

CCTV showed Ms Hall’s friends try to break up the tussle and it was at this point that Nangle became “physically engaged” and struck out, added the prosecutor.

Back inside Cousins, Ms Hall spotted some blood on her top but thought nothing of it.

It was only when she got home a few hours later that she saw her wounds - a circular puncture to her right-hand side near her ribcage that was still bleeding and a larger cut to her right breast. She was taken by ambulance to Ashford’s William Harvey Hospital.

McAllister, of St Peter’s Place, Canterbury, had been due to stand trial accused of assault causing actual bodily harm to Ms Hall - but her guilty plea to the less serious offence of assault by beating was accepted by the prosecution before the jury was sworn.

Both Nangle and McAllister were bailed until their sentencing hearing held on Monday at Maidstone Crown Court.

The judge, Recorder Sarah Jane Counsell, told them: "I am baffled as to the reasons behind this attack. It's inexplicable."

As well as paying the compensation to Ms Hall, Nangle must carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and attend 10 “rehabilitation activity requirement” sessions.

He was given a year-long prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

McAllister, 26, of Marlowe Avenue, Canterbury, received a 12-month community order.

She was also ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work and pay Ms Hall £500 compensation.

Both Nangle and McAllister were told to pay the money within a year.