A thug whose hatred for his sister’s boyfriend led him to launch a vicious knife attack on him has been jailed for three years and five months.

Curtis Mannell smashed a car window and slashed Daniel Gray across the face, leaving him bleeding and in need of 12 stitches.

A judge told the 22-year-old, who has two previous convictions for carrying blades: “I give you this warning: If you continue to carry a knife around, with your ability to blow a fuse you will wind up standing in court facing a murder allegation.”

Mannell, of Charlton Street, Maidstone, admitted unlawful wounding, damaging property and having a bladed article.

Prosecutor David Hewitt said Mr Gray and his girlfriend Kiri Mannell went to her mother’s home at flats in Charlton Street on October 31 last year in the early evening.

Miss Mannell went in leaving Mr Gray in her Peugeot 206 car with the engine running.

"If you continue to carry a knife around, with your ability to blow a fuse, you will wind up standing in court facing a murder allegation..." - Judge Jeremy Carey

Mannell asked his sister who was in the car. She went back to it and locked the doors. But Mannell followed and smashed the side passenger window, showering the victim with glass.

Miss Mannell tried to drive off but the handbrake was stuck.

Mannell leaned into the window and “swung” a knife back and forwards, Mr Hewitt told Maidstone Crown Court. Mr Gray managed to release the handbrake and his girlfriend sped off.

“He went a short distance before he realised he had been cut,” said Mr Hewitt. “He put his hand to his mouth and there was a lot of blood.”

Miss Mannell drove him to Maidstone Hospital, where he was treated for a “slash wound” 3cm long. He was left with a scar. Glass was removed from his eye.

When arrested, Mannell had a bandaged hand. His mobile phone had a text to his sister in which he made threats to continued the violence against Mr Gray.

Judge Jeremy Carey said Mannell lost his temper and was out of control, and misguidedly took the law into his own hands.

“You did it with purpose,” he continued. “It is a very nasty injury. I accept this incident has had a salutary effect upon you but actions speak louder than words.”

The judge added: “Some might say a sentence of this kind does not, when you consider when your release will be, reflect how serious the offence is.

“Nevertheless, I have to apply the law under the guidelines.”