A MAN who stabbed two others in a Paignton street has been sentenced to five and half years behind bars.

Paul Spurling (above), 35, admitted wounding Samuel Wootton and Benjamin Hume with a vegetable knife outside the Nationwide Building Society in Hyde Road.

He attacked the two men shortly after they had been in a street fight following a verbal exchange at a bar in the town, the court heard.

Spurling pleaded guilty to one count of wounding and one of wounding with intent at Exeter Crown Court on Monday.

Judge Barry Cotter told him it was only 'good fortune' that no-one had died.

In the early hours of April 11 Mr Hume and Mr Wootton were in Winston's bar drinking together. Spurling, apparently in the club alone, approached their table.

The club's CCTV showed him engaged in some sort of 'exchange' with Hume, said David Evans for the prosecution. Cameras showed Mr Hume standing up before Spurling threw a drink over him.

Mr Evans told the court: "There was no violent reaction from Mr Hume at that stage."

Spurling was thrown out of the premises and Mr Hume was also asked to leave.

Mr Wootton went with him, the court heard.

The three men encountered each other again outside Costcutter in Station Square where they exchanged blows before a store security guard broke the fight up.

The court heard Spurling went home, armed himself with a kitchen knife and went back out looking for the two men.

He found them at the cash machine outside Nationwide and the stabbing was captured on the building society's CCTV.

Mr Evans said: "It shows the defendant jog or run towards Mr Wootton — perhaps mistaking him for Mr Hume — and without any warning and from behind stab Mr Wootton not once but four times."

Mr Wootton sustained wounds near his spine and to his left side at the back of his chest cavity.

Mr Hume was also stabbed, in the upper abdomen.

Mr Wootton was unaware he had been stabbed until he saw the blood dripping on to his shoes and the pavement as he tried to chase Spurling, who fled the scene and dumped the knife on a wall as he made his escape.

Passers-by called the emergency services and the injured men were taken to hospital.

Mr Hume required three stitches and Mr Wootton was also treated for his wounds, but was referred back to the hospital at a later date after it was found one of the stab wounds had penetrated the surface of his spleen, resulting in some bleeding around the organ and in his pelvic area. He needed surgery to remove the blood.

Mr Evans said after the attack Spurling had confessed to his girlfriend.

"He told her what had happened and they decided to call the police," said Mr Evans.

"He told them he was the person they were looking for and when officers attended he went with them to where the knife was. When he was being taken to the police station he said, 'They hurt me. I thought: I will hurt you too'."

Spurling, who now lives in South Wales, had a history of violence which includes spells in prison for burglary, robbery and violence, the court was told.

Judge Cotter said the case was 'alarming but straightforward' and it was only by 'chance and good fortune' no-one had died as a result of their injuries.