A teenage thug who repeatedly stabbed another youth in front of shocked diners in a fast food restaurant has been locked up for six-and-a-half years.

Aiden St Louis will have to serve two thirds of the sentence before being considered for release under an extended sentence for public protection. He will be on licence for a further three years.

Mohammed Gedi, who was part of the joint attack with St Louis and another unidentified man, but did not stab victim Aran O’Callaghan, was jailed for seven years.

His sentence was made consecutive to six years and three months he is already serving, imposed in December last year for his third drug trafficking offence.

St Louis, of Lewis Crescent, Cliftonville, previously admitted wounding with intent and possessing an offensive weapon.

Gedi, of Winchester Road, Higham Park, Chingford, Essex, denied wounding with intent but was convicted by a jury last month.

The 18-year-old victim was chased into a 24-hour McDonald’s in New Road, Gravesend, by St Louis, 18, Gedi, 21, and the other man at 3.45am on July 16 last year.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the motivation for the attack may have been because the victim accused St Louis of being a drug dealer.

“He is a black Margate boy,” said his lawyer John Barker. “When he met the victim he was identified by him as being a drug dealer because of the colour of his skin. This taunt occurred on more than one occasion.”

Video: The brutal attack was captured on camera

Prosecutor Ben Irwin said St Louis and the unidentified man were both armed with large kitchen knives, while Gedi was unarmed.

In the attack, captured on CCTV and mobile phone footage, Mr O’Callaghan was backed into a corner by St Louis. The only resistance he offered was to pick up a child’s chair. The third man then entered the fray

“What followed was a frenzied and brutal attack on a defenceless man,” said Mr Irwin. “While the victim was forced onto the floor under a table, there were many others in close proximity to him.

“While on the floor he was repeatedly stabbed by the two men. Gedi was there on hand offering his support. It lasted something like 30 seconds.”

A security guard picked up a child’s high chair and smashed it onto the head of the *unidentified attacker, who dropped to the floor and then fled.

Gedi also ran off but St Louis remained and stood over Mr O’Callaghan with his knife.

“The victim can be seen to be bleeding very heavily with blood pools on the floor around him,” said Mr Irwin. “As he stood over him, he is swiping the knife at him, gesticulating at him.

“He threw the knife away before running away, making good his escape.”

Mr O’Callaghan, who refused to support the prosecution, suffered “significant” wounds to his head and needed surgery on a muscle in his arm.

“The consequences are not as terrible as they could have been,” said Mr Irwin. “This was a victim who must have been particularly vulnerable when he is on his own with three men. It was a sustained incident.”

St Louis, now 19 and the father of a young baby, was subject to a suspended sentence at the time and Gedi, now 22, was on bail for the drug trafficking offence.

Judge Martin Huseyin said if the attack followed an accusation St Louis was a drug dealer, it was an extreme reaction.

He added: “I am not sentencing on the basis this was a turf war in relation to drugs.”

Passing sentence, he said: “That attack on Aran O’Callaghan was terrifying for him, no doubt, and also terrifying for members of the public who had to witness it.

“Whatever triggered this attack, it was very serious. It seems to me it is almost astonishing more serious damage wasn’t caused. Any one of those wounds could have done long-term damage or even killed him.

“It was a cowardly attack – three onto one when two were armed with knives – on a man completely unarmed. It is the action of a coward to behave like that in a crowded restaurant.”

Judge Huseyin said St Louis fell into the category of a dangerous offender requiring an extended sentence.

John Barker, for St Louis, said the teenager had expressed remorse and apologised for his conduct, recognising how reprehensible it was.

“He is a thorough nuisance in the community, rather than a serious criminal,” he said. “He has changed since he has been in custody. He is going to change over the next few years he will spend inside.

“He has been on a violence reduction course and a course called Aspire Higher. He is a young offender representative.”

Jon Harrison, for Gedi, said his client accepted he was a joint player in the attack.

“No doubt, he will live to regret he was involved at all. He has a very bad record for drugs.”

Mr Harrison said while Gedi was in custody in Elmley Prison he contracted tuberculosis which was misdiagnosed and after becoming seriously ill he had to have a colostomy bag fitted.”

"This was a sustained and incredibly violent attack and the offenders were not deterred by the number of witnesses present" - DC Peter Frampton

Speaking after the sentencing, DC Peter Frampton, the investigating officer for this case, said: "This was a sustained and incredibly violent attack and the offenders were not deterred by the number of witnesses present.

"It was a terrifying ordeal for the victim, who needed surgery on his wounds, and also for the other 40-50 people who were in the restaurant at the time.

"Their behaviour was entirely inexcusable and they have shown that, by carrying out such a brazen and aggressive attack, they are a very real threat to other members of the public."