The victim of a stabbing by a stranger in a Whitstable pub couldn’t believe it when he spotted his attacker in a restaurant.

Victim Robert Farmer took a note of the knifeman’s car registration number and reported him to police.

Now Jonathan Lawlor, 37, has been given an extended nine-year jail term after admitting wounding Mr Farmer with intent and attempting to wound his friend Aaron Bowman.

The attack was caught on CCTV and shown to Judge Heather Norton at Canterbury Crown Court.

Prosecutor Daniel Stephenson Vivian Walters told how the victims were minding their own business in the Prince Albert Pub in September last year.

She said Mr Farmer and his group were approached by the drunken Lawlor but turned away as a barmaid encourages Lawlor to leave.

The prosecutor revealed how on footage not shown in court, Lawlor had exposed himself after urging a female friend to photograph him.

He was also seen producing the knife on several occasions before lunging at Mr Farmer hitting him in the chest.

Lawlor is then seen switching the knife to his other hand before making a “haymaker” type swing at Mr Bowman, who manages to avoid the blade.

Mr Stephenson added that Lawlor, of Glover’s Close, Biggin Hill was then ushered out of the pub.

Mr Stephenson added: “For whatever reason Lawlor was unhappy with Mr Farmer; there had been no history between the men.

“He began to stand next to Mr Farmer in an aggressive manner and he was then encouraged to leave the pub before lunging at Mr Farmer hitting him in the torso.”

He said in October Mr Farmer was in Herne Hill when he saw Lawlor and took a copy of his car’s registration number.

Judge Heather Norton told Lawlor, who has 29 previous convictions including wounding and robbery: “Fortunately the injury to Mr Farmer was a relatively minor one. But it could have been so, so much worse and could have potentially have been fatal.

“You have an appalling list of previous convictions.”

Lawlor, who admitted two wounding charges and possessing a knife in public, was jailed for six years and the judge passed an extended three year term to be served on licence.

It means he will have to serve at least four years before he can even be considered for parole.