A Medway man, convicted of an attempted murder in which his victim was blinded, has been jailed for public protection.

David Hughes routinely carried a knife because he claimed he feared reprisals for a rape he committed in 1995 and he used the knife the night of December 28, 2008 to repeatedly stab Ying Liu. One stab penetrated Mr Liu’s heart and he needed emergency life-saving surgery.

Hughes, 41, of Derwent Way, Gillingham, had gone to a flat in Rochester High Street for sex with an oriental prostitute.

Mr Liu was also at the flat and for no reason was suddenly attacked by Hughes, who then fled the scene, lying low in a barn for two days until he called his father to collect him.

He did not give evidence and was convicted in November when sentence was adjourned for reports. In police interviews, Hughes said he went to the toilet in the flat and when he came out Mr Liu was locking the doors then came towards him.

Hughes said he’d been drinking and taking drugs that night and just flipped and lashed out. He hadn’t meant to cause any harm but was paranoid.

He returned for sentencing on Tuesday, and prosecutor Anthony Haycroft said a recent medical statement about Mr Liu’s condition said he still suffered severe visual impairment. His blindness had been caused when his optic nerve died because of hugh blood loss and severely reduced oxygen supply.

Hughes had 35 convictions for 65 offences which ranged from dishonesty to the rape, for which he served six years.

He must serve a minimum of eight and a half years before the parole board would consider whether it was safe to release him. Had it been a determinate sentence, it would have been 17 years.

For full report and reaction see Friday's Medway Messenger.