A Good Samaritan lost the top of his ear when a man he was checking on launched a vicious knife attack in the early hours of New Year’s Day, a court has heard.

Momodou Lamin Darboe, 19, was jailed for more than three years this week for the attack, which happened in Gladstone Road, Poole at around 1am on January 1.

The victim, a man in his 40s, heard raised voices outside his home. He went outside and saw Darboe, who was involved in a row with a group of people.

He walked over to Darboe to see if he needed any help and was ok. Although he didn’t see what happened next, he suddenly felt a pain around his left ear and ran back into the house, locking the front behind him.

Once safely back inside, the victim realised he was bleeding heavily.

He called 999. As he was on the phone to call handlers, Darboe walked up to the victim’s house and smashed the glass on the front door.

It was heard the defendant used a ‘bat or blunt instrument’ to damage the door.

Police rushed to the scene and launched a search for Darboe. He was quickly found and arrested.

After his arrest, officers discovered the defendant had a lock knife with him.

There was a blood on the three-inch blade.

He also had cannabis in his sock.

The victim was taken to Poole Hospital for treatment.

He needed nine stitches for a deep laceration running behind his left ear and down towards his neck. Darboe had also sliced off part of the victim’s upper ear during the unprovoked attack.

On Tuesday, Darboe, who lives in Langdon Road, Poole, was sentenced to three years and four months in prison at Southampton Crown Court after admitting inflicting grievous bodily harm, possessing a bladed article in a public place, possessing an offensive weapon, criminal damage and possessing a class B drug.

Detective Constable Kat Rawlings, of Bournemouth CID, said: “The victim in this case did nothing to provoke Darboe and was subjected to a violent attack with a knife that left him with a nasty injury that will have a lasting impact.

“We know only too well the devastating consequences of knife crime and we will do all we can to take action against those who go out armed with a weapon and attack innocent members of the public.

“I am pleased that in this case we were able to quickly identify Darboe as the offender and ensure he was brought before the court.”

DC Rawlings called for anyone concerned that a person might be carrying a knife to report it to police online by visiting dorset.police.uk/do-it-online or by calling 101.

Always dial 999 in an emergency.

For more information on tackling knife crime, visit knifefree.co.uk