A man who went on a knife-wielding “rampage”, stabbing two people, has been jailed.

Mark Burrows had drunk half a bottle of vodka before he attacked two men with an eight-inch blade in Aldershot on March 7.

Winchester Crown Court heard that Burrows’ girlfriend had ended their relationship earlier in the day, which led to the booze-fuelled assaults.

The 20-year-old screamed “run for your life” as he waved the knife around when people tried to calm him down.

Judge Andrew Barnett said he had to impose a custodial sentence for the protection of the public.

He said the defendant was “a danger to the community” and both his victims had “lucky escapes”.

Burrows, of no fixed address, admitted wounding with intent, unlawful wounding and possessing an offensive weapon.

Simon Edwards, prosecuting, said Burrows threatened to end his life when he was told his relationship with his girlfriend was over.

“He went to the kitchen and got a large knife,” he said.

“That’s the knife that was used on the two members of the public.”

The first victim, Matthew Rich, was walking in Windsor Way, away from Aldershot railway station, when Burrows jumped on his back and stabbed him.

His wound was an inch deep and he had to be kept in hospital overnight, the court heard.

Mr Edwards said: “Mr Rich is unknown to this defendant. He is walking along the road when he feels as though someone has jumped on his back. He lunges forward, but doesn’t fall over. He looks round to see this defendant running away back up the street.

“Mr Rich ran away but stopped as he realised he had been stabbed in the back.”

CCTV pictures showed Burrows being approached by his second victim, Jason Laugharne.

The “public spirit” in Mr Laugharne made him try to calm Burrows down.

Mr Edwards said: “Mr Laugharne raises his hands, afraid the knife will be used. It was used to stab him in the upper leg. Mr Laugharne was minding his own business. He was effectively trying to calm the defendant down.”

Mr Edwards said the attacks could have been “catastrophic”.

Burrows was arrested but made no comment in inter-view.

Alexander Williams, defending, said his client was “in a frenzy born out of a state of emotional turmoil”. He said that as well as dealing with the break-up of his relationship he was coming to terms with the search for his biological mother coming to an end.

“He had been living with his girlfriend,” Mr Williams said. “He is adopted and had been searching for his mother. She had not responded to his contact. He knew that was a brick wall in the progress of that search.

“These two emotional blows struck more or less together.

“He left the house with the knife, intending to harm himself. Unfortunately, Mr Rich was the first passer-by he came across.”

Mr Williams said the attacks on Mr Rich and Mr Laugharne were not life-threatening.

He described Mr Laugharne’s injury as “a nick rather than a stab wound”.

Judge Barnett jailed Burrows for four and a half years for wounding with intent and said he would have to serve two and a quarter years before the parole board would consider him for release.

He imposed a two-and-a-half-year concurrent sentence for unlawful wounding and a two year concurrent sentence for carrying an offensive weapon.

The court was told Burrows had an array of previous convictions, including theft, common assault, using threatening behaviour and assaulting a police officer.

Burrows admitted he was in breach of a 20-week custodial sentence suspended for 18 months that was given to him on November 23 last year at Slough Magistrates’ Court.

Judge Barnett added four months on the end of his sentence for the breach.

He said: “You are 20 years of age and you have a worrying record. You have a number of previous convictions, most recently for possessing an offensive weapon and various assaults.

“You went on a rampage in the local streets. What you did is well documented both in the pictures and the significant witness statements which I have read.

“There is a significant risk to the public of harm from further offences by you. It seems to me that you are a danger to the community.

“This is the least sentence I can impose upon you, in my view.”

The 131 days Burrows had already spent in custody will be taken off his sentence.