A drunken man, talking about carrying out a burglary or robbery, turned on someone who he feared was using his mobile phone to “snitch” on him.

However, all victim Jake Smith was doing was sending friendly texts to his mum.

Despite that, a row broke out when thug Billy Hicks, 28, hit Mr Smith with a vodka bottle before stabbing him with a kitchen knife and a pair of scissors.

Prosecutor Francis Lawson told Canterbury Crown Court how Mr Smith’s injuries included severed nerves in his head and stab wounds on his arm that required 34 stitches.

Now Hicks, of Maison Dieu Road, Dover, has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years after admitting wounding with intent.

Ms Lawson told how Mr Smith had gone to meet friends in Leighton Road in March at 3am and Hicks turned up.

“The defendant started talking about wanting to commit a burglary or robbery while Mr Smith was texting his mother who was in a different country.

“This provoked Hicks into accusing Mr Smith of snitching on him. The victim tried to calm him down by showing him the texts.

“And about 20 minutes later as Mr Smith tried to leave, he was stopped by Hicks who hit him over the head with a bottle of vodka before attacking him with a knife and a pair of scissors.”

“I’m going to kill you. I will do 13 years for you” - Billy Hicks

Hicks was then alleged to have told Mr Smith “I’m going to kill you. I will do 13 years for you” before the victim managed to escape after women in the flat intervened.

One of the group later described seeing the room “covered in blood”, the prosecutor added.

After the attack, Hicks threw the knife into the River Dour.

Tariq Al-Mallak, defending, said Hicks claimed he used a key to cause some of the injuries and not scissors.

Judge Heather Norton said that how the argument began was unclear, however it had been an unprovoked attack, leaving the victim with mental and physical injuries.