by Keith Hunt

A meeting between two friends ended with one of them stabbing the other in the stomach in a random attack, a court heard.

Terrified Daniel Bessell ran semi-naked from Lee Charlesworth’s home covered in blood and was treated in hospital for six weeks with a damaged liver.

A judge said after Charlesworth, 35, was convicted of unlawful wounding, it was “a most unusual case”, as there was no apparent motive.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the two men were good friends after working together as window cleaners.

Mr Bessell went to visit Charlesworth at his home in Thomas Road, Sittingbourne, on May 15 last year, after having an row with his girlfriend.

David Ross, prosecuting, said Mr Bessell arrived in the morning, taking with him a box of wine, which they started to drink.

While there, Mr Bessell had a shower and Charlesworth had a bath.
Afterwards, Charlesworth picked up a knife and started making slashing actions.

“Suddenly, he stabbed Mr Bessell in the stomach using an under-arm action,” said the prosecutor.

“The reason he did it is not very clear at all. There had not been an argument.

“Mr Bessell ran out of the house. He was only partially clothed. He was wearing a T-shirt and nothing else.

“He started knocking on the front doors of people living in the street.”

He was taken to hospital and treated for the single stab wound that pierced his liver.

For the full story, see this week's Sittingbourne Messenger