A judge has jailed a knifeman for a town centre attack but then admitted he has been left baffled as to his motives.

Michael Jibowu, 20, admitted stabbing victim Kristian Hillyard, 18, three times near the KFC restaurant in Week Street, Maidstone in April this year.

But neither man revealed why the incident happened, Maidstone Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Bridget Todd told how Mr Hillyard had been eating inside the fast food chain as Jibowu passed walking a dog.

"At some point Mr Hillyard got up and went outside. A security officer later told how the two had a small encounter 'as if to say hello' and there didn't appear to be any hostility.

"The two then walked off towards the Sue Ryder charity shop. Two minutes later the victim returned to the KFC shouting and one of his friends said: 'I thought you knew him'."

It was then that the teenager shouted: "He has nutted me, he has nutted me. He stabbed me, he stabbed me."

KFC staff then took the victim to the back of the restaurant where paramedics were called and began treating the wounds.

Ms Todd said Mr Hillyard had received stab wounds to his neck, back and buttock.

Danny Moore, defending, said: "This was completely out of character and his remorse is genuine."

Jibowu, of Upper Wickham Lane, Welling, was jailed for 32 months after admitting wounding with intent.

Judge Robert Lazarus added that knife crime needed deterrent sentences because it is a serious problem.

"You are a Christian and clearly you have a lot to offer," he told Jibowu.

"But there is clearly some kind of history between you and Mr Hillyard and I am baffled, to say the least how you come to be in this situation."