A man who carried out a threatening knife attack as he tried to steal a mobile phone has been jailed for seven years.

Lewis Puddifoot asked the victim if he "wanted to die" as he stood outside a restaurant in Dartford talking on his phone.

Puddifoot, 41, of Dickens Avenue, Dartford, placed a knife against the man's neck and pushed him to the ground and began assaulting him.

The incident happened at 10.40pm on Sunday, January 23 in Hythe Street.

A friend of the victim heard the incident and along with another person pulled Puddifoot off the injured man before he fled the scene.

The victim then realised he was bleeding and that he had been stabbed in the hand.

Officers attended and obtained CCTV with an image of Puddifoot being circulated to police who were patrolling in the area.

'Puddifoot was an opportunist who saw his victim and targeted him for his mobile phone....'

At 11.55pm, he was seen in another part of the town centre standing outside a pub and was subsequently arrested.

Officers also recovered the knife used by Puddifoot after a member of the public reported finding it hidden at around 3am. The knife was found discarded near the pub where Puddifoot had been arrested a few hours earlier.

He was charged with the offences on Monday, January 24.

He was jailed at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday, September 23 after admitting assault with intent to rob and possessing a bladed article in a public place.

He was ordered to serve seven years in jail and is subject to an extended licence period of five years.

A forfeiture and destruction notice was also served and Puddifoot was ordered to pay a victim surcharge.

Investigating officer Det Con Emma Laimbeer, said: "Puddifoot was an opportunist who saw his victim and targeted him for his mobile phone.

"Despite already taking possession of this he went on to assault the victim where he stabbed him in his hand before fleeing the area.

"His sentence reflects the seriousness of his offending and I hope the outcome provides some reassurance to the victim."