A “dangerous” young man left a Good Samaritan with "horrific injuries" after knifing him in the face at a railway station.

Kai Laing, from Ramsgate, who claimed to get a “buzz” from violence, attacked Nahro Khadi at Ashford International Station.

The 21-year-old thug, who has been convicted for 33 previous offences, twice shouted his own name in bravado, moments after the attack.

His "brainless" actions led officers to easily identify and arrest him. He has now been jailed for four years and eight months.

The violence unfolded when Laing and his partner left the station at around 10.30pm on Monday, January 3.

Laing passed Mr Khadi and his friends, looking at them as he did so.

One of the group asked Laing if he was OK, to which he replied: “Cushtie”.

But Laing then stopped and handed his shopping bags and work boots to his partner, pulled out a Stanley knife and approached the three men.

During sentencing at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday, a judge described Laing's decision to turn and confront the group as a "terrible mistake".

The court heard that one of the men tried to disarm Laing with a "flying kick".

It is at that point Mr Khadi sought to intervene.

“His role was that of a peacemaker - your role most certainly was not," said recorder Duncan Atkinson QC.

"You chose to use the knife you had ready for use against Mr Khadi, who had done nothing to you.”

Laing swung the blade in the face of the 19-year-old victim, then repeatedly shouted “that’s my name, Kai John Laing” and left the location.

Mr Khadi was rushed to a nearby hospital and treated for a 10cm facial wound, which has caused permanent scarring.

The judge told Laing he was a “dangerous” offender.

“You swung that knife towards him, slashing his right cheek,” he said.

“And when you left, after causing that devastating blow you shouted your name as you wanted them to know who you are after doing what you just did.

“Because of the shouting of your name you were identified.”

Officers arrested Laing at an Ashford address where the knife, containing his and Mr Khadi’s DNA, was discovered.

In interview officers, presented Laing with a photo of his victim’s injury, and he responded by laughing.

Laing, a qualified bricklayer, would plead guilty to wounding with intent and possessing a bladed article before trial, while Mr Khadi continues to battle psychological trauma.

“Mr Khadi no longer feels safe going out, as he is ashamed of his appearance, or, rather, what you did to his appearance, because people will think he has been in a fight rather than a victim, when he was trying to stop such mindless violence,” the judge told Laing.

“The harm goes way beyond the 10cm scar.”

The court heard Laing’s offending started at age 14 with a series of battery offences. By age 17 he assaulted a prison guard.

And during his time spent working with probation officers, Laing “repeatedly” told how gets a “buzz from violence”, the court heard.

But Kerry Waitt, mitigating, argued Laing had changed his ways, having steered clear of crime for 26 months after being released from custody in October 2020.

He added: “This was a chance encounter. There was an exchange of words over the defendant’s shoulder.

“The defendant then made the mistake of stopping and turning to face the group of three others. There was a confrontation.

“One of the group did a flying kick at the defendant and then the victim got between the defendant and the associate. It is then the incident occurred, the slash to the victim’s face.”

Laing, of Staner Court, was handed a 56-month extended sentence with a further three years on licence.

"His actions on that evening were ghastly and brainless..."

He will have to serve two-thirds of his term in custody before being considered for parole.

Detective Constable Ellen Whinney, of British Transport Police, said: “This was a despicable act of violence that resulted in the victim, who Laing had met just moments before the attack, sustaining a horrifying facial injury.

“His actions on that evening were ghastly and brainless – I’m glad that he’ll spend his immediate future behind bars where he can’t harm anyone else.

“Thankfully incidents of this nature are extremely rare on the railway network, however if you do witness violence as you travel, please report it to us."

You can contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40. In an emergency, dial 999.