This is the moment a Bradford knife maniac selected a victim at random and plunged a blade into his face.

CCTV cameras picked up Neil Longstaff standing in the doorway of a pub, watching customers leave at closing time.

For no apparent reason he picked out 25-year-old Jamie Boothe and grabbed him around the neck. Then, as Mr Boothe tried to pull away, he produced a razor-sharp craft knife from his sleeve and slashed him down the cheek.

In the third picture, the agony is clear on Mr Boothe's face as the knife goes straight through his cheek and into his mouth, leaving a two-inch gash.

The shocking pictures were released by police as Longstaff, 48, of Kettlewell Drive, Little Horton, was jailed for four years at Newcastle Crown Court.

The incident happened as the men, who were strangers, left the Roker Hotel in Sunderland at closing time on March 6.

CCTV footage from the premises clearly shows Longstaff watching other customers leaving the bar before Mr Boothe came out.

Prosecutor Bridie Smurthwaite told the court: "From the account given by Mr Boothe, he said as he walked outside a male who was not known to him walked towards him and put his hand out saying, All right, mate'.

"The complainant put his hand out and shook hands thinking he was trying to be friendly. It was then the defendant kept hold of the complainant's left hand and raised his own right hand.

"The complainant felt a blow to his left cheek and he thought he had been punched. At that point, Mr Boothe's friend dragged him away and pointed out he was bleeding.

"It was then he saw his clothes were covered in blood and he realised he had been stabbed."

The court heard how Longstaff went from the scene to the nearby Anchor Lodge guest house where he was arrested in his room later that night.

He admitted to police he had singled out Mr Boothe but could give no explanation why.

Mr Boothe, who comes from Yorkshire but was living and working in Sunderland, was taken to hospital for treatment.

Longstaff admitted wounding with intent at an earlier hearing.

Both men were working in Sunderland but did not know each other and had never met.

Customers at the pub said both Longstaff and Mr Boothe had been drinking in the pub but had not spoken to each other and had not had a row.

Longstaff's barrister Brian Russell told the court yesterday: "This is a highly irrational and inexplicable event. No rational explanation for this offence exists."

Mr Russell said Longstaff, who has no convictions in the last 15 years, was "disgusted" with his behaviour that night.

Jailing Longstaff, Judge Maurice Carr said: "To take a knife to a man's face is a serious matter and one which calls for a lengthy term of imprisonment."