A MAN who brutally stabbed a stranger who accidentally bumped into him has been jailed for five-and-a-half years.

Terence Calder, 26, went on the run for almost two years after the vicious attack in Oldham town centre in November 2006.

It left his victim so badly injured that nurses were unable to stitch his wounds together because they were so large.

Calder of Wenfield Drive, Blackley, admitted wounding with intent and was sentenced at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester.

He has also been given an extended licence period of three years.

His 31-year-old victim had been drinking in Oldham in the early hours after attending a family funeral.

As he was leaving a bar on Fairbottom Street, he bumped into Calder who then launched a ferocious and sustained attack.

After punching him to the ground, he continued to punch and kick his head. Pushing him onto a car bonnet, he then stabbed him three times with a lock knife and bit his right index finger. Calder only stopped because he was pulled away.

Detective Constable Dave Millwood said: "Calder's assault was absolutely savage.

"It was not just one punch but a sustained and frenzied attack that left the victim in a really bad way.

"Not only did he repeatedly use his fists but he also stabbed the victim with a lock knife and just for good measure, bit him.

"It is extremely lucky his victim did not suffer permanent brain damage."

The victim was treated for two stab wounds to his back and one to his forearm at Royal Oldham Hospital, along with a badly swollen and bruised face, and cut finger.

Scenes of crime investigators recovered a silver lock knife from a nearby alley that Calder was captured on CCTV running down.

His fingerprints were also found on the car bonnet.

He was arrested days later and had an identical silver lock knife to the one recovered.

After he was charged, he was bailed by the courts and went on the run for nearly two years. He left the country but was arrested on his return.

Detective Millwood, of Oldham's Operational Support Unit said: "Rather than face up to what he did, Calder chose the coward's way out and went on the run.

"However, if he thought he could escape justice he was mistaken. This case was never put in a drawer and our officers never gave up in the hunt for Calder.

"It is thanks to their persistence and hard work that we were able to finally bring this man before the courts."