This is the chilling moment CCTV caught a masked thug calmly preparing himself before he stabbed a stranger with a 10-inch knife in an unprovoked attack. 

Tyrone James, 41, knifed the man outside a pub in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, on October 22 2023 leaving the victim with life-altering injuries. 

Leicester Crown Court heard that James had told police that before the attack he had been racially abused.

James has been drinking in pubs across the town. He had verbally abused customers and even punched a different man in the face. 

He left the final pub shortly after midnight and drove home to Hucknall but returned around 35 minutes later in a change of clothes with a balaclava.

Tyrone James (pictured), 41, knifed the man outside a pub in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, on October 22 2023 leaving the victim with life-altering injuries

Chilling CCTV footage caught James calmly preparing himself before he launched his unprovoked attack 

He was captured on CCTV getting out of his car and putting a knife in his waistband shortly before commencing his attack. 

Nottinghamshire police launched a manhunt for the attacker and James was traced thanks to CCTV and phone records revealing his location at the time of the stabbing.

He was jailed for eight years at Leicester Crown Court last Friday having previously pleaded guilty to committing grievous bodily harm with intent, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and assault by beating.

Detective Inspector James Oakton, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: 'This was a savage attack committed in front of a number of onlookers who were spilling out of a town centre pub.

'It appears James had an argument earlier in the evening before driving home.

'He had plenty of time to think about what to do next. He chose to change his clothes and return with a knife and his face covered.

'He then punched one man before launching a sustained attack with the weapon on a second victim.

James has been drinking in pubs across the town and had verbally abused people in the pub and he also punched a different man in the face. He drove home to Hucknall but returned around 35 minutes later in a change of clothes with a balaclava

Detective Inspector James Oakton, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: 'This was a savage attack committed in front of a number of onlookers who were spilling out of a town centre pub'

'The decisions James made that night have directly led to a victim suffering life-altering injuries and himself ending up behind bars.

'As a force we have said repeatedly that the decision to leave home with a knife can ultimately lead to devastating consequences for the knife carrier and others.

'Our officers continue to work hard investigating knife crime as a key force priority, putting offenders before the courts and educating people about the dangers of carrying them.'