by Keith Hunt

A thug could face an indefinite jail sentence for a vicious Christmas Day knife attack that permanently scarred his victim.

Paul Harbour slashed David Hansford four times across the forehead, telling him: “Every time you see this, you will remember me.”

Harbour, of Lobelia Close, Gillingham, denied wounding with intent but was convicted.

“A judge told him: “This was a cold and chilling offence.”

Maidstone Crown Court heard Mr Hansford was staying at the home of Kenneth Nightingale in Balmoral Road, Gillingham, at the time.

Karen Holt, prosecuting, said both men had been drinking heavily and both had been in trouble with the police.

Harbour, 25, was in an argumentative move when he went to the flat with his girlfriend on Christmas Day and Mr Hansford told him to leave.

“The next thing Mr Hansford knew he found himself rolling around on the floor with the defendant,” said Miss Holt.

“He was gouging at his eyes with his fingers. Mr Hansford found himself trapped by the furniture.

"He felt severe, sharp pain to his forehead. It felt like his forehead was being cut with a Stanley knife.

"Although drunk, Mr Harbour knew what he was doing.”

Harbour told Mr Hansford, 28, the scars would be a reminder of him.

Soon afterwards, they were out in the street and Harbour kicked the victim in the ribs.

Miss Holt said Mr Hansford had four “full thickness” cuts to his forehead about 10cm long and a 4cm cut to his chin. He needed about 50 stitches.

Adjourning sentence for a psychiatric report to a date to be fixed, Judge Martin Joy told Harbour: “You have been convicted of a very serious offence.

"The law requires me to consider if you fall into the category of posing serious harm.

“If that is the case, the court will impose an indeterminate sentence.

"You may have had a lot to drink but you have a bad record for offences.

“It is quite plain your intention was to seriously mark your victim and you did just that.

"In those circumstances, it is likely an indeterminate sentence will be imposed.

“If it is not an indeterminate sentence, a sentence of considerable length is inevitable. I am also concerned about your mental state.”