A man who stabbed three people in a shocking unprovoked attack in Hastings town centre has been jailed for life.
Nicky Warnes, 46, of no fixed address, launched the brutal assault in the early hours of 19 October 2023, after threatening two strangers at a late-night restaurant on Havelock Road.
Without warning, he followed the two men and stabbed both in the chest. A woman working nearby bravely tried to intervene but was also stabbed in the arm. One of the male victims suffered a collapsed lung, and all three required hospital treatment for their injuries.
Speaking after the incident, one of the victims said:
“I don’t know why we were attacked. All we did was walk past him. Once he started having a go, I could tell he was looking for a fight.”
Warnes attempted to hide the weapon by discarding it in a bin inside the restaurant, but it was swiftly recovered by officers on patrol in the area.
He was arrested shortly after the incident and later charged with three counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and one count of possessing a bladed article in public.
Warnes admitted the charges at Lewes Crown Court in November 2024 and was sentenced at Hove Crown Court on Tuesday, 19 March 2025. He was jailed for life, with a minimum term of eight years before being considered for parole.
During sentencing, the court heard that Warnes had confronted the victims around 2.40am before launching the attack. One victim continues to suffer with nightmares and ongoing pain, while the other two are still receiving treatment for their injuries.
Detective Sergeant Auryn Liddiard of Sussex Police said:
“This was an unprovoked and violent attack using a blade. The victims didn’t initially realise they had been stabbed as Warnes had concealed the knife.
“Thanks to the courage of the woman who intervened and the swift actions of officers on patrol, Warnes was quickly arrested and the weapon recovered.
“We are pleased that a dangerous and violent individual has been taken off our streets and handed a significant prison sentence.”
