Taitex Phlamachha recovering in hospital after being stabbed in Maidstone

by Julia Roberts

A knife-wielding thug who stabbed an ex-Gurkha soldier during an attempted mugging in Maidstone town centre is facing a lengthy spell behind bars.

Jamie Hall, of Tumin House, Fairmeadow, Maidstone, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to Taitex Phlamachha with intent when he appeared at Maidstone Crown Court today Friday.

The 29-year-old also admitted attempted robbery, having an offensive weapon - a kitchen knife - in Week Street, and assaulting Mr Phlamachha's wife, Asha, by beating on the same occasion.

Dad-of-two Mr Phlamachha, who runs Namaste Off Licence in Sandling, was left with a 6in blade in his arm following the attempted mugging on October 7.

An x-ray showing the blade in Taitex Phlamachha's arm after he was stabbed

He and his wife were on their way home at about 10pm having withdrawn money from a cash machine.

The karate and taekwondo expert, who served for 13 years with Maidstone's 36 Engineers, was treated at Maidstone Hospital before being transferred to Tunbridge Wells Hospital for the knife to be removed.

Mr Phlamachha also suffered cuts to his arm, hands, face and neck.

Adjourning sentence for a report to consider dangerousness, Judge Michael Carroll described the attack as "heinous" and told Hall that prison was inevitable.

"Nothing other than an immediate custodial sentence of some type of some considerable length will be passed in due course," he added.

Hall was remanded in custody until February 1.