A violent offender who stabbed a workmate during an argument has been jailed.
Andrew Wells had argued on the phone with his victim, who was carrying out work at a commercial premises in Market Place, Huthwaite.
Wells then attended the location later that day on 6 January this year and continued his dispute with his workmate outside.
Moments later Wells, aged 32, suddenly lunged at him with a knife and stabbed him twice in the midriff.
The victim, a man in his thirties, needed surgery to repair extensive abdominal injuries.
Wells then fled the scene after the attack but later called the police to hand himself in.
He pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of an offensive weapon at Nottingham Crown Court on 11 April.
Appearing at the same court for sentencing on Monday (1 August), Wells, of Radley Square, Highbury Vale, was jailed for four years and six months, and handed a restraining order.
A statement from the victim was read out in court, which detailed how the attack had impacted his life.
He said: “At the time I was in hospital, I was worried that I would never see my children again. I was surrounded by doctors and didn’t know what was going to happen.
“Since the incident, my general day-to-day activities are now a struggle, even putting my socks on. This upsets me as it has taken some of my independence away.
“It is even hard for my children to hug me without it hurting. Although I have come through this now and feel as though I am making progress and dealing with my emotions better, I can’t get the time back which I have lost.”
Carrying out sentencing, Judge Nigel Godsmark QC, added: “Whatever might have transpired in the phone conversation, this attack was effectively immediate and involved a degree of pre-meditation.
“You went there with the intention of stabbing him and caused him what I’d consider to be a grave injury.”
Detective Constable Hollie Fothergill, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This was a vicious and wholly unnecessary assault that left the victim with very significant and traumatic injuries.
“Unsurprisingly, this incident has had a very severe impact on him physically and emotionally, and I am pleased justice has now been served.
“As is the case with many incidents of this type, the injuries inflicted could very easily have been even worse. I hope this case serves as a warning to others about the potential consequences of knife crime.”
