CHILLING CCTV footage of the moments before a thug armed with a knife slashed an unsuspecting student across the throat has been released after the offender was sentenced to 21 years in prison.

In the film, Kevin Boyle can be seen walking up behind 18-year-old Glen Morrant as the teenager used a cashpoint in Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth.

The cameras also captured footage not released to the public as Boyle, 60, drew a blade from his pocket and cut Mr Morrant's throat.

The victim, who was targeted in a case of mistaken identity in the early hours of August 18 last year, had been celebrating his A-level results. He suffered a 23-centimetre wound to his neck which required 49 stitches.

Boyle had involved in a row with door staff at the Camel Bar in Old Christchurch Road at 4.10am on the day of the attack.

During the incident, two young men intervened and hid Boyle’s baseball cap underneath a parked car before ushering him away.

Mr Morrant was not involved in the incident outside Camel, but looks like one of the young men involved. Prosecutors said the student was mistakenly targeted.

Mr Morrant left Camel at 6am and went to a cashpoint. Boyle, who lived a short distance away in Wootton Gardens, had been home to change his clothes. He then waited at a bus stop outside Camel.

When he saw his victim become separated from his friends, Boyle followed the teenager to a cashpoint and attacked him.

The defendant was convicted of attempted murder following a trial at Winchester Crown Court. He was yesterday sentenced to 21 years in prison. He will also spend a further five years on licence upon his release.

Police said the defendant carried out a "cold and cowardly attack" with a "terrifying level of violence".

Detective Constable Chris Griffin, of Bournemouth CID, said: “The violent actions of Kevin Boyle could so easily have resulted in the tragic death of an innocent young man.

“The attack will have a long lasting impact on his victim and I hope the sentence imposed demonstrates that this shocking level of violence will not be tolerated.

“I would like to praise the victim and all the witnesses who came forward for their support during the investigation and the courage they showed giving evidence during the trial.

“Through extensive CCTV enquiries and other investigative work we were able to identify Boyle as the culprit and compile enough evidence to bring him to justice for this horrific offence.

"I would like to thank all my fellow officers and colleagues who assisted in the investigation.”