A man who stabbed his friend after a row about a phone contract pleaded with a judge not to jail him because he feared being radicalised by Islamic extremists behind bars.

Jerome Sewell, 23, stabbed Lucky Omohegbe “three or four times” during the "callous and cowardly" attack at a car park near Kingston station on February 5, 2014.

Sewell was angry Mr Omohegbe, described as a former friend, had sold him a dodgy phone contract, a sentencing at Kingston Crown Court heard today.

Having spent more than a year on bail since being charged, Sewell was sent to prison in April to await sentencing, where he said inmates had tried to convert him to Islam.

Today he was jailed for five years. Unusually, Recorder Aiden Christie QC permitted Sewell to step into the dock and directly address him prior to sentencing. 

Sewell said: “I am not a danger to society and staff at the prison have notified me about being at risk of being drawn into terrorist attacks.

“I’ve been a young carer for a while, I’ve got autistic traits. It would appear I’ve suffered a mental breakdown of some sort.

“I think I’ve really proven myself to be a person with a promising future. My purpose is better served in the outside world.”

Kathleen Mulhern, defending, told the court of Sewell’s efforts to look after his autistic brother and a documentary he had made about the dangers of becoming involved with gangs.

A statement was also read by his mother, during which she says Sewell became more of a “recluse” after the family was made homeless in 2012.

Ms Mulhern said: “He was prior to this a man of good character. Prior to being in custody he was very active in his family involvement.

“He’s completed a degree in media studies and he has a love of writing. He has taken part in the production of many short films, one of which is in relation to gang violence. He does wish to continue a career path, which is to help others.

“There may have been some post-traumatic stress disorder that he’s suffering from. He has been worried that people will try and convert him to Islam.”

Sewell, of Longlands Avenue, Sutton, was convicted of wounding with intent at Kingston Crown Court on March 21.

The sentencing was delayed four times, including once so that a psychiatric report could be compiled. Recorder Christie noted that Sewell had been “uncooperative” during the process and no medical report was ever completed.

Sewell had no convictions prior to the stabbing, but was once cautioned after being stopped by police while carrying nunchucks, which Ms Mulhern said he was carrying due to his hobby of martial arts.

Prosecuter Martin Pinfold reminded the judge that Mr Omohegbe told jurors during the trial Sewell had tried to stab him “about 10 times” during the attack.

He suffered no significant injuries.

Recorder Christie said: “You went there armed with a knife. [It] must have been a terrifying experience for him, he understood that you were a friend of his.

“There was a significant degree of predetermination. There was the intention probably to commit more harm.

“It’s a matter of luck that Mr Omohegbe did not suffer more severe injuries than he did. You’re conduct was callous and cowardly.”

Sewell was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £120.