A Co Down man who stabbed a stranger in a "unprovoked and random" attack on a busy east Belfast street has been jailed.
Kyle Antonio Jamal Swift, from Church View in Holywood, was handed a sentence totalling five years and eight months on a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The 30-year old attended his sentencing hearing at Belfast Crown Court via a videolink with HMP Maghaberry.
Prior to passing sentence, Judge Mark Reel was told the knife attack occurred on the afternoon of October 31, 2021.
Crown barrister Robin Steer said that on that date, an intoxicated Swift was seen running across the Belmont Road and heard shouting 'That's your man over there.'
As he ran across the road, a car was forced to stop - and after making it to the other side of the road, Swift then approached a man and stabbed him in the back as he walked to his car.
Members of the public came to the injured man's aid and police were called.
Mr Steer said that after the injured party was treated for the single wound, he "fortunately" didn't require any further medical assistance.
Swift was identified from CCTV by a police officer and he was also picked out of a subsequent identification procedure by one of the witnesses.
He was arrested the day after the stabbing and during interview he admitted being on the Belmont Road.
He said he had been in the area with his partner and claimed they had a row - but initially denied having a knife and stabbing the injured party.
Citing Swift's lifestyle as "chaotic", Mr Steer spoke of the defendant's long-standing drug dependency, a background of mental health issues and his lengthy criminal record.
The prosecutor also revealed that Probation have deemed Swift to be a "dangerous offender" one who "presents a serious risk of harm to the public."
Defence barrister Richard McConkey said his client now accepted he stabbed the other man, who was unknown to him, but that there was "no explanation for this" attack.
Mr McConkey said Swift's drug misuse was a "textbook example of how somebody can start off smoking cannabis at a young age and completely spiral out of control by progressing onto harder drugs."
The barrister also told Judge Reel that whilst Swift admitted he was injecting cocaine around the time of the offence, he has taken steps to address his drugs problem whilst in prison.
Branding the stabbing as "entirely unprovoked and random", Judge Reel noted Swift has 110 previous convictions and expressed concern at the "escalation of his offending and the use of a knife."
Agreeing with the Probation Board's assessment that Swift is a dangerous offender, Judge Reel imposed an extended custodial sentence comprising of four years and two months in custody followed by an extended period of 18 months on licence.
This, the Judge said, was necessary to protect the public.