A thug who repeatedly plunged a knife into a work colleague after an earlier argument has been jailed for 13 years.

Tomasz Szramoski managed to drive himself to hospital despite a serious stomach wound inflicted by 33-year-old Cuneyt Sungu.

Sungu, of Whitegate Close, Tunbridge Wells, denied wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm but was convicted by a jury on Wednesday.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the two men worked at a Marks and Spencer’s distribution centre on the Colebrook Industrial Estate in Longfield Road, Tunbridge Wells.

There was resentment towards Polish warehouse worker Mr Szramoski by other members of staff, including Sungu.

Mr Szramoski, 28, told the jury Sungu did not like him working the early shift. He asked Sungu to meet him so that they could sort out their problems. As he drove home on May 27 last year he saw that Sungu was no longer in his work clothes.

Another colleague directed Mr Szramoski to park near some garages. He got out of his car and realised they were not just going to talk. Mr Szramoski said Sungu pushed him and then lifted his shirt to reveal a knife. In panic, Mr Szramoski punched him in the face.

“I thought he was going to pull the knife on me. I didn’t want it to happen and just wanted to run away from this situation. He ran after me and started chasing me with the knife. I ran behind the garages. He was right after me," he said.

Mr Szramoski said the pathway was blocked and his only option was to face Sungu.

“I was just trying to keep the knife away and he was just constantly using that knife to stab me,” he continued. “He stabbed me three times - my left arm, the main one was into my stomach and the third one was just below my chest.”

Mr Szramoski fled with Sungu in pursuit. He drove to Pembury Hospital where he needed surgery. The bloodstained knife and clothing were later found in a wheelie bin on the driveway of Sungu’s home.

"He is nervous, he has nightmares. This incident continues to haunt him" - Judge Philip Statman

Judge Philip Statman told the father-of-one: “Violence of this kind in which a knife is used to inflict serious injury in a public place outrages and horrifies the collective conscience of the community as a whole.”

Michael Latham, defending, said it was a sad and serious matter for a man of good character who had been convicted of an offence of such gravity. “The consequences to his family will be devastating,” he said.

“He has been married for five years and has a four-year-old daughter. He lost his job and has found it difficult to get work since."

Judge Statman said it was not possible to determine what led to the “awful events”.
“Whether it was banter that got out of control or jokes that went foul in terms of communication, we will never know,” he said.

But it was certain that Sungu left work and went home after an earlier argument with Mr Szramoski. He changed his clothes and returned to the industrial estate. “You parked up and took from your vehicle a very large knife,” said the judge. “You strapped it to your body and covered it with your shirt.

“You stabbed him three times - to the arm, the chest but more importantly to the stomach. The wall of his abdomen was pierced and there was blood within. These were on any view very serious injuries. It is good fortune that none of the major organs were damaged.

“Nonetheless, he remained in hospital for three days. He was off work for five months. The effect of the attack is described in his victim impact statement. He is nervous, he has nightmares. This incident continues to haunt him. There was an attempt by you to dispose of evidence, namely bloodstained clothing and the knife.

“This is a case where you have shown absolutely no remorse from start to finish. Any offence of this kind must be visited by condign punishment.”