A man who attacked a drug dealer with a knife has had his sentence increased.

In March 2019, George Stemp approached his victim who was in his vehicle in Tonbridge on the pretext of buying cocaine.

Before the deal took place, Stemp, who was 23 at the time, opened the car door and stabbed the victim three times using a kitchen knife.

The victim ran from the vehicle in fear for his life.

Stemp, of Thames Street, Greenwich, but previously of Maidstone, chased him and threatened to stab him again unless he handed over more wraps of cocaine before fleeing.

The victim suffered significant injuries in the attack.

One of his lungs now has reduced capacity after being penetrated by the knife and medics have told him he may never regain full use of his left hand.

"I did not believe that the original sentence accurately reflected the fact that Stemp attacked the victim with the intent of doing him serious harm..."

At Maidstone Crown Court on March 4, Stemp, who is now 26, was sentenced to three years and six months’ imprisonment for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The solicitor general Alex Chalk QC MP referred his sentence to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme because he believed it was too low.

On Wednesday, May 25, the court found Stemp’s sentence to be unduly lenient and increased it to five years’ imprisonment.

Speaking after the hearing, Mr Chalk said: “George Stemp inflicted life-changing injuries in order to obtain class A drugs.

"I did not believe that the original sentence accurately reflected the fact that Stemp attacked the victim with the intent of doing him serious harm, so I welcome the court’s decision to increase the sentence.”