A man who stabbed a stranger in the back because he was “having a bad week” has been jailed for four years.

Simon Sargent, 37, was suffering from temporary psychosis because he was withdrawing from alcohol when he knifed Michael Michalski Mercifully the kitchen knife missed all of Mr Michalski’s major organs in the attack on March 17 last year.

Hove Crown Court was told yesterday how Sargent targeted Mr Michalski as he bent over prospectuses outside Central Sussex College in Queens Road, East Grinstead.

Sargent admitted wounding his victim but was cleared after a trial of the more serious charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Judge Anthony Niblett said he had read a letter from Sargent in which he expressed deep remorse. In it Sargent had said: “My behaviour beggars belief and I am deeply remorseful for the pain and suffering I caused.