A ferocious thug repeatedly stabbed a man in the street before shouting at those trying to save him “let him die.”

Craig Judd plunged the blade four times into Caspian Francis’ torso and buttocks in an explosion of violence, near his Margate home.

Mr Francis’ injuries were so severe he would likely have died without urgent surgery following the attack.

Judd, 25, was jailed for seven and a half years at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday where details of the disturbing events were laid bare.

Judge Simon James said: ”For no readily discernible motive, you repeatedly stabbed and seriously injured a man, who has, since his emergency lifesaving surgery and discharge from hospital, refused to assist the police with their enquiries.

“You are an individual who has demonstrated a capacity for extreme violence with no obvious justification and, consequently, it seems that I am left with little alternative but to conclude that you pose a significant risk.

“The number of blows, their ferocity and location all point, as do what you were overheard to say, to an individual intent on causing the sort of serious injury, which did in fact result.”

Judge James stressed it was “obvious” Mr Francis “would likely have died” without highly specialised and prompt treatment.

The court heard Judd told the authorities he suffered a blackout and had no recollection of setting upon his victim just after midnight on August 13 last year.

He also argued Mr Francis was a stranger to him, despite witnesses' accounts pointing to the contrary.

Judge James told Judd there was no medical evidence of his blackouts, while his account likely served as a “smokescreen” hiding the “wider criminal context of your dispute.”

“One approach is to accept that as you may have an underlying medical condition, which, until such is diagnosed and treated demands that you considered as posing a significant risk of causing serious harm by reason of the commission of further offences.

“Another, potentially more cynical - but I would venture to suggest more - realistic stance, is that the silence and vacillating claims of a lack of recollection are all a deliberate smokescreen to divert away from the inescapable conclusion that, both you and your victim, know perfectly well what this was all about, but are both reluctant for the court to know the truth and the wider criminal context of your dispute.”

Prosecutor Emin Kandola said the sound of shouting woke Judd’s neighbours in Fulham Avenue on that fateful night.

“Video from a ring doorbell shows the defendant facing the victim, Caspian Francis,” said Ms Kandola.

“The defendant can be seen thrusting the knife at least three times and Mr Francis moving to avoid the knife.”

Ms Kandola went on to report how neighbours came outside of their homes to see Mr Francis on the ground bleeding heavily and tried to stem the blood flow.

But, she said, Judd was overheard shouting “don’t help him - let him die”.

“Police officers at the scene attended to Mr Francis until the ambulance crew took over.

“Bodycam footage stills show the victim lying on the pavement, blood coming from his side, back and up his arms,” added the prosecutor.

Judd was arrested with a wounded eye at the scene.

When officers quizzed him, Judd said he met Mr Francis for the first time that night after returning home from a night drinking.

He claimed Mr Francis knocked on his door saying “Sorry mate, I’m lost” then entered his house to charge his phone.

The court heard how Mr Francis was admitted to Kings College Hospital and taken to intensive care.

Medical notes state he had four stab wounds - two to the rib area on the right side of his body, a third to the lower back and one to the right buttock.

The punctures have caused an injury to his small intestine which resulted in his gallbladder having to be removed.

He was then intubated, fitted with a catheter and remained in hospital until September 1.

Judd was originally charged with attempted murder.

But he would plead guilty to the lesser charge of wounding with intent, which was accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service on November 23.

On Friday, Judd appeared in the dock wearing a grey tracksuit and remained silent throughout proceedings.

His lawyer Kerry Waitt said Judd admits intending to cause Mr Francis serious injury, but has since expressed remorse for his actions.

“Mr Judd is under no illusions that he is facing the prospect of a significant custodial sentence.

“He clearly has some neurological problems, he was signed-off as unfit to work by his GP some time ago.

“This is the defendant’s first experience in custody, he is participating in education, he is not using drugs and he has what was described as a positive attitude.”