A TEENAGER has been jailed for four years and two months for a stabbing that left his 21-year-old victim in a coma.

Joseph Browne, 19, was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm to Cameron Tait, who was left with permanent injuries in the wake of the attack in the car park of Bremhill View Social Club at Calne on November 12 last year.

Mr Tait was stabbed in the abdomen with a 15cm hunting-style knife. His life was saved by paramedics and his friends who attempted to staunch the blood.

Det Insp Nick Mawson, of Wiltshire Police, welcomed the sentence for what he described as a shocking crime.

"Throughout this investigation Browne has failed to take any responsibility for his actions, unnecessarily putting Mr Tait and his family though a full criminal trial.

"He initially lied about carrying the knife to the scene of the attack. He then disposed of the knife and his outer clothing hoping that the police would not find them and link them to him and the crime.

"However, it has been shown that this was a premeditated attack on an unarmed person, who had posed no threat nor shown any physical aggression towards Browne.

"Mr Tait suffered serious injuries as the knife went completely through his stomach, as well as other vital organs. It is only thanks to the early first aid provided by his friends at the scene, and the expertise of the paramedics and hospital staff, that he is alive today."

Det Insp Mawson added: "This attack demonstrates the disastrous and heartbreaking impact of young people carrying knives and using those knives to maim others.

"If Browne had not been carrying a knife that day, these life-changing injuries would not have occurred."

Browne, of Braemor Road, in Calne, who had denied the charge, was also handed a 20-month prison sentence, to be served concurrently, for possession of a knife.

Wiltshire Police were called to the scene at 6.45pm and Browne was quickly identified as the main suspect and arrested within the hour.

Mr Tait was taken to Southmead Hospital in a life-threatening condition and spent five months in hospital. He has been left with permanent injuries from which he will never recover.

Wiltshire Police head of crime prevention Sonja Leith said the force had been working hard to educate young people about the dangers of carrying knives.

She said: "This could very easily have been a murder investigation and we hope it highlights how quickly a confrontation or argument can escalate if one of those involved is carrying a weapon.

"We are continuing with our proactive partnership work, pairing up with other organisations, including the youth offending team and the local authorities, to make sure our young people in Wiltshire and Swindon understand and appreciate the serious impact of knife crime."