A MAN has been jailed for 18 years after a "brutal and mindless" attack left a knife blade stuck in another man's head.

James Johnson nearly died after a kitchen knife was thrust into his left temple on May 6 last year when violence flared in a Harwich street.

The blade penetrated his head to a depth of nearly three inches and it took a highly delicate operation by surgeons to remove it.

Kyle Ogilvie denied trying to kill Mr Johnson but was convicted after a trial last year.

Judge Charles Gratwicke told the 22-year-old, at Chelmsford Crown Court on January 25 that his sentence was 18 years in jail.

He said: "This was a brutal and mindless assault. Mr Johnson was lucky to escape with his life."