A VIOLENT teenager convicted of attempted murder after he stabbed a father three times in his abdomen on his doorstep in a random attack has been locked up for 20 years.

Jordan Ash, 19, described by a judge as extremely dangerous, must serve at least two thirds of that custodial term before applying for parole under an extended sentence for public protection.

He will only be released once it is deemed safe to do so by the Parole Board, and will then be subject to an additional three years to any licence period.

Ash, who is from Brighton but has no fixed address, was just 18 and on drugs when he repeatedly knifed Gerald Edwards outside his home in Strood, near Rochester, Kent.

The 59-year-old had opened his front door to remonstrate with Ash and two other men for smashing his living room window in a completely random act of violence.

He had been sitting just three feet from the window when it was shattered with a lump of wood at 8.50pm on Friday, September 29, last year.

But a court heard that as Mr Edwards hurried out to tackle the vandals Ash rushed towards him and, without warning, thrust the 6in blade into him three times using an underarm motion.

Mr Edwards had to have his spleen removed and a partial removal of his pancreas as a result of the wounds he suffered. His liver was also sliced.

Mr Edwards’ teenage son Christopher was also stabbed as he helped his stricken father.

The 19-year-old had been watching Coronation Street when he heard the commotion outside.

He dragged his injured father back into the house and was forcing the front door shut when Ash, wielding the blade above his shoulder, charged towards them and jabbed it five times through a stained glass panel, slicing the palm of Christopher’s right hand.

Maidstone Crown Court in Kent was told that Ash’s DNA was later found on the broken edge of the glass.

When arrested the following month he was in possession of a large combat knife.

He claimed at his trial that one of his accomplices had carried out the knifing but later told a psychiatrist that he had gone out that evening to steal drugs and to stab his drug dealer rival.

Ash denied attempting to murder Gerald Edwards, unlawful wounding of Christopher Edwards, and having an article with a blade, but was unanimously convicted of all three offences by a jury.

Just two months before stabbing Mr Edwards, Ash was involved in violence in a KFC outlet in Brighton which led to a man being stabbed.

On that occasion he was not the one wielding the blade but was convicted of affray and is currently serving 27 months’ custody.

The court heard he has a total of 15 previous convictions for 35 offences, some dating back to when he was just 14.

They include violent disorder, supplying heroin and crack cocaine, battery, assaulting police and possessing a knife in a public place.

Sentencing him yesterday, Judge Charles Macdonald QC said it was “extremely probable” he had mistaken Mr Edwards for another man with a similar name, living in the ares and said to be connected to drugs.

But he dismissed any suggestion of remorse and said it was “virtually inconceivable” Ash had acted spontaneously.

“The attack was almost immediate and vicious, without anything worthy of the

name of provocation or resistance.

At the time he stabbed Gerald Edwards three times in the abdomen he intended to kill him,” said Judge Macdonald.

“This was an attack in the home, relatives of Gerald Edwards were present, and he, his wife and son suffered substantial victim impact from the attack on him.

“Everyone thought, including him, that he was going to die there and then.

“It is arguable that a long deterrent sentence on a young man is a sufficient sentence, but my finding is that Jordan Ash is extremely dangerous and an extended sentence for public protection is demanded.

“There is a significant risk that he will reoffend violently and a significant risk that he will do serious harm to members of the public.”