A MAN who knifed his friend repeatedly in an unprovoked attack has been handed an extended sentence after a judge found him to be dangerous.

Daniel Lowe, of Steer Road in Swanage, stabbed Andrew McPhail 15 times with a nine-inch carving knife on the Nuffield Industrial Estate, Poole.

The two had been friends for some four years before the attack, which took place on Friday, June 16 last year.

Mr McPhail, 31, was working at Tyre City when he was visited by Lowe. The men were sat in the victim's car when, without warning, Lowe stabbed Mr McPhail in the chest.

The victim managed to get out of the car, but slipped and fell to the ground. Lowe, 27, then stabbed him repeatedly in his chest and abdomen.

One of the stab wounds pierced through the victim's stomach and into his pancreas.

Colleagues of the victim heard his screams and ran to help.

After the attack, Lowe got into Mr McPhail's car and drove at speed towards Poole. He hit another car at the Fleetsbridge Roundabout and left the scene, driving straight to the police station, where he ran into the building and was detained.

Police seized a kitchen knife from the car.

Mr McPhail underwent life-saving surgery. In a victim impact statement read aloud at Bournemouth Crown Court during an earlier hearing, he said he shouts Lowe's name in his sleep.

"My greatest fear is that it will happen again because I have no idea why it happened in the first place," he said.

"I honestly thought I was going to die and never see my unborn son."

Lowe was asked more than 20 times in interview why he had carried out the attack, but has never given a reason.

However, the defendant later admitted section 18 wounding with intent, having a knife in a public place, possession of cannabis and aggravated vehicle taking involving dangerous driving.

Lowe has now been sentenced to eight years in prison, with an extended licence period of a further four years as a result of the harm he poses to the public.

He was also disqualified from driving for 69 months and made the subject of a restraining order for 10 years, prohibiting him from contacting the victim.