A YOUNG property developer was stabbed seven times with a hunting knife for his £7,000 Rolex in a quiet Bournemouth street.

Rory Mayoh suffered life-threatening injuries after being attacked by drug dealer Christopher Henry-Jowitt in Harewood Crescent last September.

Mr Mayoh, who had become addicted to heroin after he was injured in a serious car crash as a teenager, suffered a wound just one millimetre from his heart.

His left hand was sliced to the tendons. He also sustained two stab wounds to his face, both of which went down to muscle.

One of the stab wounds to his abdomen nicked his spleen.

Dr Matt Murray, who works at nearby Littledown Surgery, saved his life by staunching the bleeding until paramedics arrived.

After the attack, Henry-Jowitt went on the run. He was approached by police in Sheffield behind the wheel of a Renault Megane in January.

However, the defendant made off at speeds of up to 80 miles per hour in 30mph streets, even driving the wrong way down a dual carriageway.

Officers giving chase deployed a stinger, puncturing the vehicle's tyres, but the defendant failed to stop.

He was eventually arrested after officers crashed their vehicle into the Megane, forcing it into a central reservation.

On Friday morning, Henry-Jowitt, 21, appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court.

The defendant, of no fixed abode, admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent, robbery, possession of a bladed weapon in a public place, being concerned in the supply of a class A drug, possessing crack cocaine with intent to supply it, dangerous driving and failing to stop.

Prosecuting, Rob Welling said the victim, 23, had become addicted to painkillers after being injured in a crash. He later began taking heroin.

Mr Mayoh knew Henry-Jowitt as 'Mitch' and believed them to be friendly.

The two had even talked about going jet skiing together.

But during a planned meeting on September 30 last year, the defendant grabbed Mr Mayoh's wrist and asked about his Rolex. He then began to stab the victim with the hunting knife, hacking at his arm, face, hands and chest.

Henry-Jowitt told his victim: "You're dead. Stop fighting.

"If you don't **** off, I'll cut your neck open and kill you."

Mr Welling said: "It was a matter of some luck that nearby there was a surgery and a doctor on hand to help staunch the blood."

Mr Mayoh didn't appear at court, but a victim impact statement was read aloud. He had written that he still feels the "blood welling up and about to come out of my mouth again".

Sentencing the defendant to 12 years in prison, as well as an extended driving ban, Judge Brian Forster QC said: "I know it is a long sentence for someone of your age.

"I hope you can change in prison and have a better life in the future."

Speaking after the hearing, Detective Constable Simon Walters, of Bournemouth CID, said: “This was an extremely violent attack that left the victim with significant injuries and it was fortunate they were not even more serious."