by Keith Hunt

A thug who stabbed two brothers outside their home is facing jail.

Neil Packer was convicted of wounding with intent and assault causing actual bodily harm.

He had denied the charges but failed to appear at Maidstone Crown Court and a judge ordered that the trial should proceed without him.

The violence erupted after a row in Weatherly Close, Rochester, where victims Jamie and Lee George live with their mother Marie Vango.

Katrina Charles, prosecuting, said Packer, 45, was visiting neighbours in the street on March 13 last year when an argument started outside between Lee George and his girlfriend.

Neighbours came out to find out what was happening. Packer approached the couple and was told to go away.

Various arguments broke out and Packer was seen to raise his hand to Lee George's face.

"The knife he was holding was obscured," said Miss Charles. "Lee felt a slash to the left side of his face. When Jamie saw blood on his brother's face he went to his aid.

"Jamie jumped in and brought him to the ground. The two men wrestled and the defendant stabbed Jamie repeatedly to the leg."

Another man managed to drag Jamie away, as Packer tried to cling onto his leg. Packer then fled.

The brothers were taken to Medway Hospital. Jamie was treated for multiple wounds to his leg. Lee was treated for a cut to his face.

When arrested Packer, of Mara Court, White Road, Chatham, said he had been pushed by Jamie and he fell over a wall.

He claimed he was punched by a number of men and he found a piece of glass on the ground and defended himself. He denied causing Lee's facial injury.

The jury had not been told that Packer had jumped bail but at the end of the trial Judge Jeremy Carey revealed a warrant had been issued for his arrest.

"I will not sentence in his absence," he said. "He will be arrested in due course.

"These are very serious matters. I see no reason why we should not wait until he has been apprehended, whenever that may be."