A man was stabbed in the back in Folkestone’s Radnor Park following a dispute over drugs, a court was told.

The broad daylight attack in March perforated the victim’s liver, leaving him with life-threatening injuries, prosecutor Simon Taylor said.

The victim was still suffering from the effects, Canterbury Crown Court heard.

At a hearing on September 16, Jack Jarman admitted wounding with intent and supplying crack cocaine and was sentenced on Monday.

The 19-year-old was jailed for a total of six years.

The victim, a Folkestone man, was airlifted to St George's Hospital in Tooting, south London after the air ambulance landed in the park on March 11.

He was sitting on a bench in the park talking on his mobile phone and a woman with a child in a pushchair and two men were also in the area.

Jarman then approached the group and got into an argument with the victim, who started to run away but fell over.

He then walked up to him and stabbed him in the back.

After staggering to the nearby Royal Victoria Hospital, which only has a minor injuries unit, the victim received treatment.

Forensic teams spent several hours sweeping the area around the boating while officers remained outside the hospital the following day.

Mr Taylor said Jarman had appeared in court 12 times for 17 offences, which included possessing and supplying drugs.

Peter Alcock, defending, said Jarman’s family were supportive of him. He had a low IQ and learning disabilities.

Judge Adele Williams told Jarman, who comes from Barking, east London, that he had committed a grave offence.

“This was all as a result of your having a disagreement with the victim over drugs supply,” she said.

“You are still only 19. No doubt you have profound difficulties in some ways but you caused these grave injuries.

"The victim has been left fearful of meeting people.”