Sunderland knifeman who slashed stranger who gave him cash in the street jailed for six years

Lee Rogan has asked his victim for money when the pair struck up a conversation in Sunderland city centre just four days before Christmas last year.Newcastle Crown Court heard the 24-year-old man handed over a "couple of pounds" and continued to chat with Rogan as they walked away in the same direction.The court heard as they headed towards Hendon, Rogan grew "paranoid" that the man and his friends were following him, so called into the Norfolk Hotel, where he was living, and picked up a six inch knife and a claw hammer.Prosecutor Neil Pallister told the court: "He walked straight up to the victim, called him a pr*** then lashed out with the knife, slashed the left side of his face, which caused a nasty, three inch slash wound."The man was taken to hospital where he needed 12 stitches in his face and will be scarred for life.He told police he was "shellshocked" by what happened and added: "You try to be nice to people and this happens."The pain was unbearable."The court heard the victim lost money by having to take time off work and is self conscious about his scar.Rogan, who was on a suspended sentence for cutting a man's neck with a razor blade during a pub row and has other convictions for violence, admitted wounding with inent and having an offensive weapon.Judge Edward Bindloss said the 33-year-old was a "dangerous offender" and sentenced him to six years behind bars, with a three year extended licence period.The judge told him: "This was unprovoked, without warning, in the street."You took steps to arm yourself, which shows premeditation."The complainant had simply been charitable to you."You are a significant risk of causing serious harm in future."Jamie Adams, defending, said Rogan was "shocked" by his own behaviour, which was through paranoia, borne out of a history of bullying due to his short, slight stature.Mr Adams said Rogan was willing to now address the problems that have led him to act in the way he did.