A talented artist and son of an Oscar-winning soundman who stabbed his friend in a drunken row has been jailed for more than eight years.

Mark Rowe, who sells limited edition prints and canvases of his contemporary work online for up to £350, knifed Gary Freeman four times in his chest and abdomen.

Maidstone Crown Court heard violence erupted in the street after Rowe verbally abused his pal’s girlfriend.

The 54-year-old pocketed two knives and then followed Mr Freeman into Balmoral Road, Gillingham, and stabbed him with one of the weapons outside a church.

Mr Freeman, 48, was taken to King’s College Hospital in London where he underwent surgery and was detained for two weeks.

A judge said that but for the skill of those who operated on Mr Freeman, Rowe would have faced much more serious charges.

Sadly, however, the court heard that Mr Freeman has since died from an unrelated heart attack.

The two men, who were both alcoholics, had known each other for three years and been house-mates. Before the attack on June 17, there had been no animosity between the pair.

Rowe, of Trafalgar Street, Gillingham, admitted wounding with intent and possessing an offensive weapon.

Standing in the dock this week to hear his fate was a situation far removed from his upbringing. According to his website, he spent his childhood surrounded by the world of film and theatre as as his father, Bill Rowe, was director of post productions at Elstree Film Studios.

In his illustrious career, Bill Rowe worked on movies such as Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange, Alien, The French Lieutenant’s Woman and The Killing Fields, and went on to win an Oscar for Best Sound for The Last Emperor.

James Hasslacher, defending, told the court Rowe had used his inheritance money after his father’s death to set up a business but it failed and the money was frittered away, leading to excessive drinking and homelessness.

Of the attack on his friend, Mr Hasslacher said: “He cannot understand how this occurred. They were both alcoholics, he was very drunk that night, he was his friend. He cannot explain it.”

Rowe was sentenced to a total of eight years and four months. The knife he used to attack Mr Freeman has never been recovered.

Judge Philip Statman said although he accepted Rowe had expressed remorse, he had deliberately armed himself with the knives and confronted Mr Freeman.

"Knife crime leads to this type of awful violence occurring" - Judge Philip Statman

“Where weapons of offence are carried as they are in this case into a public place, there will always be grave public concern,” he added.

“Knife crime leads to this type of awful violence occurring.”

Rowe has previous convictions for assaulting police and common assault but had last offended in 2001.

His longest spell behind bars before the sentencing hearing was one month.

Despite the injuries he caused to Mr Freeman, the court was told he “completely misunderstood” the seriousness of the offences.

“He thought he could plead guilty, be sentenced to 12 months and serve six,” explained Mr Hasslacher.

He added that Rowe was “considerably upset” when he heard his friend had died.