A Dover man has been branded a coward and a racist – after knifing a man in the back during a street argument.

Charlie Bowers's girlfriend had started the incident after asking a Polish stranger for a light for a cigarette.

She then knocked off his cap as 25-year-old Bowers ran into his home in Folkestone Road and armed himself.

Victim Piotr Lacheta was then stabbed in the back in what a judge called a "cowardly attack".

Judge Adele Williams said when Bowers was arrested "he made an unpleasant racist comment about the victim".

Now Bowers, who admitted wounding with intent, has been jailed for four years for the attack in June.

Donna East, prosecuting, told Canterbury Crown Court how Bowers and his girlfriend had been out in Dover.

"They approached Mr Lacheta, who was with a friend, and the girlfriend had asked for a light. He produced a light, but she then hit him around the head causing his hat to be knocked off.

"He asked her why she had done it and Bowers began to shout and swear before running to his house. He re-emerged without a shirt and carrying a knife."

The prosecutor said Mr Lacheta and a friend ran away. "Unfortunately he wasn't as quick as his friend and was stabbed in the back by Bowers who was shouting aggressively," said Miss East.

Mr Lacheta was taken to hospital, but did not need stitches to the small wound near his shoulder.

Kerry Waite, defending, said: "Bowers accepts that his behaviour was wholly irresponsible, completely unacceptable and reckless."

He said the defendant and his girlfriend live "in a multicultural" area where she "has been subjected to sexist unpleasant remarks and comments".

Mr Waite added: "On this night his girlfriend rather foolishly asked the victim and another man for a light for a cigarette.

"Something happened to cause a reaction from the girlfriend and she struck the victim causing his hat to be knocked off.

"Words were exchanged and the defendant, knowing of the tensions, went back into the house and armed himself."

Judge Williams jailed Bowers for four years, telling him: "This was a cowardly attack because you went and deliberately armed yourself. That is a seriously aggravating feature.

"Those who arm themselves with knives and carry out unprovoked attacks such as this must realise that only a lengthy custodial sentence will follow."

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