A THUG who stabbed his former school friend in the eye and stomach outside a nightclub has been locked up for seven-and-a-half years.

George Facey-Smith, 21, left removals man Jamie Wilson blind in his right eye following the attack outside Talk Nightclub, in Lucy Road, Southend, on February 26.

Basildon Crown Court heard how Facey-Smith had previously sent his victim a knife emoji as he made repeated threats to stab him.

Greg Unwin, prosecuting, said one message said “I’m going to smash his face in” while another said he would “shank” Mr Wilson.

The court heard the pair had been friends since school but fell out when Facey-Smith’s previous convictions came to light.

He had attacked a woman in May, 2015, knocking her unconscious by elbowing her to the ground before biting her ear.

Facey-Smith, of Denton Avenue, Westcliff, was convicted of a second count of battery against his girlfriend in 2016, which his friends discovered.

Mr Unwin said: “The history started when the complainant, Mr Wilson, and his friends started to distance themselves from Mr Facey-Smith when they learned about his conviction for assaulting his girlfriend.

“There then followed threatening messages from the defendant to Mr Wilson.”

The pair crossed paths on January 21 outside Talk Nightclub, where Facey-Smith made another threat to stab Mr Wilson.

Mr Unwin said: “Mr Wilson was seeking no confrontation and walked away.”

But Facey-Smith continued to send threatening messages and at 4am on February 26 Mr Wilson spotted him again outside Talk.

Mr Unwin said: “In light of the threats that had preceded he approached the defendant and swung a punch towards him.

“The defendant then attacked Mr Wilson. The first part of the attack was to the eye. He described it as being like a ‘hot poker’ going through his eye.

“He fell to the ground in pain and there he was stabbed in the stomach.”

The knife was not recovered but the court heard both wounds were caused by a sharp implement.

Mr Wilson was left needing surgery and has lost his sight in his right eye.

Mr Unwin added: “As well as the significant psychological damage there has been life-changing damage to his daily life. He’s unable to drive and it’s affecting his financial prospects.”

Facey-Smith admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent at an earlier hearing.

Kevin Toomey, mitigating, said there was “provocation” because Mr Wilson had swung the first punch.

But he added: “The injury is extremely unpleasant and life-changing. It would be folly for me to argue otherwise.”

He said Facey-Smith was “ashamed” of his actions and said: “There is good in this young man.”

Judge John Lodge jailed Facey-Smith for seven-and-a-half years after giving him credit for his guilty plea.

After the hearing, Det Chief Insp Neil Pudney said: “This was shocking and violent attack that left a man with serious injuries.

“It is galling that Facey-Smith was willing to use such extreme violence.

“Carrying a knife is never acceptable and the consequences of doing so can be very serious, sometimes fatal.

“Facey-Smith will now spend a significant time behind bars and I hope he uses that time to reflect on his actions.”