A father-of-two, who slashed the throat of a rival in a busy town centre after a row over a girlfriend, has been jailed for 13 and a half years.

Rodney Geisha returned to Maidstone Crown Court for sentencing today after previously being found guilty of wounding with intent and causing grievous bodily harm after an attack in Maidstone town.

But Geisha began complaining the moment he was brought into court and stormed out within two minutes.

Prosecutor Martin Yale had been telling the judge of the effects on the victim when the 51-year-old shouted: "I cannot listen to this...what about how I am feeling?"

He then walked out the dock and refused to return despite an appeal from his barrister.

As the case re-started a note was sent to the judge reporting that Geisha now wanted to leave the building and return to prison.

Judge Julian Smith later ruled Geisha posed a danger to the public and added an extra four years which he will have to serve on licence when he is released.

Geisha - who was on bail for robbery at the time of the attack in 2021 - had disrupted the original trial which was postponed and he was eventually acquitted of attempted murder.

Maidstone Crown Court had heard how the victim Harry Cadwallader was cut with a knife in February 2021 after a bust up when Geisha also slashed the face of Harry's brother, Jack during the row.

But the jury found him NOT guilty of attempted murder against Harry or causing Jack GBH with intent.

But they convicted him of the alternative charges of wounding with intent and causing grievous bodily harm.

Geisha, of Fairmeadow, Maidstone, was also found guilty of attempting to pervert the course of justice and possessing a knife in public.

The prosecutor had revealed how Mr Cadwallader's neck was slashed.

"On that day the brothers had been in the centre of Maidstone and Harry had been drinking and accepted that alcohol was having an effect on him.

"At about 3.30pm they came across Geisha, who Harry had met when they did some physical training together.

"However, the two had fallen out when Harry came to believe that Geisha had made a pass at his then girlfriend."

Mr Yale said there had been a "verbal exchange" after the two clashed and a police officer spoke with them and they had separated.

"However, later that evening their paths crossed again when Geisha seemed to be trying to goad Harry about his previous interactions with Harry's girlfriend.

"Geisha was carrying a knife and during the altercation took the knife and used it to cut Harry's neck before slashing the face of Jack."

Geisha later claimed Harry held a grudge against him claiming he was trying to start a relationship with his girlfriend.

Roderick Jones, defending, said it was a deliberate but not sustained attack "caused in the heat of the moment".

Mr Yale revealed how after Geisha was in custody, a former partner of Harry began receiving texts from an unknown number.

"These messages clearly related to the case and were threatening and intended to persuade Harry to change his evidence.”

The prosecutor said the calls were traced to Donna Meflah, 49, of Allin Place, Fairmeadow, Maidstone, who was later jailed for 21 months for attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Speaking after sentencing today, police investigator Shelley Rainer said: “Geisha armed himself with a knife before going to Maidstone town centre and readily produced it when he became involved in an argument.

“The injury suffered by the second victim required surgery and it is only chance that he did not lose his life.

“This is due in no small part to the actions of an NHS worker who assisted with first aid until the arrival of paramedics.

“His attacker’s actions were truly appalling and the town will be a much safer place now he is serving a prison sentence.”