A dangerous thug has been jailed for stabbing a stranger in the chest, narrowly missing his heart.

Loui Allman, of Folkestone, plunged the kitchen knife into Nathan Hardwick in Folkestone after running into his group by chance.

The 35-year-old has now been handed a 10-year extended sentence at Canterbury Crown Court.

As Mr Hardwick bled profusely, Allman fled down an alley near Star Nails and Beauty on Sandgate Road.

But Mr Hardwick’s friends Joseph Whyte and Danny Frost gave chase and brought Allman to the floor.

During the struggle one suffered a stab wound to the head and another was cut on the torso, Canterbury Crown Court heard on Friday.

Allman pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and possession of a bladed article.

He was originally charged with three counts of attempted murder.

But after reviewing CCTV evidence it “could not be proved beyond reasonable doubt he wasn’t acting in self defence,” when Mr Whyte and Mr Frost became injured, prosecutors said.

Mr Hardwick’s group and Allman, who were unknown to each other, crossed paths following a night out in the early hours of August 21 last year, prosecutors said.

Laurence Imrie told how a row flared up when Allman brandished the blade and delivered two blows: “Mr Hardwick thought he was being punched but instead he was being stabbed.”

Allman dropped the blade and fled the crime scene after levelling death threats towards the group, however, he would be arrested the next day.

Mr Hardwick was rushed to Ashford’s William Harvey Hospital and treated for two stab wounds and a punctured lung

The court heard the knife missed Mr Hardwick’s heart by inches.

Meanwhile officers cordoned off the crime scene and, after the knife was analysed, Allman’s DNA was discovered.

Doctor Benjamin Swift told the court in a statement “there was no immediate risk to life” but if the wound was “more towards the mid-line it would have damaged the heart.”

At the time of the attack, Allman had recently been released on licence following an eight year sentence for robbery and attempted robbery.

Handing down an extended sentence last week, Judge Simon James said: “By chance, you encountered a group of strangers walking down the high street late at night.

“For reasons known perhaps not even to yourself but no doubt contributed to by the fact that you were intoxicated, you seemed to take offence, became aggressive and ended up in a wholly unnecessary confrontation with Mr Hardwick.

“Mr Hardwick sustained two stab wounds to his chest, one of which penetrated his lung. Mercifully, he did not require significant surgical intervention, but it is only by sheer good fortune that he did not sustain life threatening injuries.”

Danny Moore, defending, said Allman had a “very troubled start in life” and has been diagnosed as having emotional instability personality disorder.

He continued: “This case is not of the level that is required by the statute to implement the imposition of a life sentence.

“Although we concede it is a serious offence, something much more serious is required for the imposition of a life sentence. Whatever is said about this defendant’s history, this is the first time he has caused serious injury to anybody.”

Allman, of St Eanswythe Way, must serve at least two thirds of his sentence before being considered for parole.