A man told a stranger 'I'm in the mood for killing somebody today, is it going to be your day' before slashing his throat.
Christopher Vaughan, 25, attacked his victim outside Bootle Strand shopping centre earlier this year.
As the country was easing itself out of lockdown Vaughan, of Caspian Place, Bootle, left his home with a knife on May 20 threatening people.
Liverpool Crown Court heard Vaughan, had been drinking since 2pm and had been in an argument before the attack.
Henry Riding, prosecuting, said Vaughan had a “domestic incident” in his home before leaving a house armed with an eight-inch kitchen knife.
The court heard how the defendant's sister was worried about him and other members of the public and called police to say he was armed.
While out, at about 9.45pm, Vaughan approached Abigail Morrison and Chad Farrell, on the Leeds Liverpool canal.
The pair told officers they could see the defendant walking with what appeared to be a knife and “mumbling”.
Mr Riding said: “He was about 12 feet away from them and they heard him say ‘I’m going to do something bad, you better not be here when I get back’.
“Worrying, and not wanting to cause any trouble understandably, they started to leave..
“But the defendant passed them, and was about 20 feet away, when he shouted ‘what did I tell you? I thought I told you to move’.”
The pair left the scene, Mr Riding added, before calling police.
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A short time later, Vaughan was seen near Bootle Strand shopping centre with a knife.
Mr Riding said Robert Lloyd was sitting at a bus stop near the shopping centre and was with people drinking lager and cider.
Mr Riding said: “When the complainant [Mr Lloyd] noticed the defendant, he was walking along Stanley Road, and he was waving a knife about and shouting.
“The defendant was walking along the opposite side of the road and he shouted ‘What are you looking at’.
“The complainant asked what he was saying and the defendant started to cross the road, while waving the knife around.”
Mr Lloyd managed to get the knife from Vaughan, but then it was taken back. This occurred while he was sitting at the bus stop.
Vaughan continued to swing the knife around, and the two met.
Mr Riding said: “The complainant fell to the ground. At that point, the defendant still had hold of him and had the knife to his throat.
“And he said ‘I’m in the mood for killing somebody, is it going to be your day?’”
Vaughan then cut Mr Lloyd’s throat, which started to bleed immediately.
Mr Riding said the victim, desperate to blot the wound, he used a “chip packet” to try and stop the bleeding.
Officers arrived at the scene where the knife was immediately detained. Mr Lloyd was treated there, but refused to go to hospital for further treatment.
Paramedics did take pictures of the wound though, with one ambulance worker describing the cut as “nasty”.
Making a recovery, Mr Lloyd detailed to the court how the attack had affected him.
Reading aloud a victim personal statement, Mr Riding said: “I can definitely say since the incident I am a different person.
“I no longer wish to go out. I’ve been living in a hotel since and most of my time is spent inside of my room.
“I’m now affected even by the sight of a knife.”
Damien Nolan, defending, said his client had “no recollection” of the shocking incident, and was extremely remorseful.
He told the court his client was intoxicated at the time, had poor mental health and was thought to have been suffering some kind of mental episode at the time.
Vaughan, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and making threats with an article or blade.
When arrested, Vaughan presented a prepared statement but gave no comment and claimed to have had no recollection of the incident.
Mr Riding said: “He said he suffered abuse as a child and had a problem with alcohol. He was shocked by the accusations against him.
“He was never a violent person and believes he had some kind of breakdown due to deep-seated personal issues.”
Echoing this, Mr Nolan said his client had no previous convictions for anything violent and “he said he cannot explain it.”
He added: “His remorse is genuine.”
Judge Brian Cummings QC sentenced Vaughan to four years imprisonment for wounding with intent, and 12 months for threatening with a bladed article.
The sentences will run concurrently, he said.
He told Vaughan he will serve half of this sentence in prison before he is eligible for release on licence.
He said: “It appears that this is an isolated incident in terms of your lifetime. I accept you show remorse for what you have done.”
