A KNIFE-wielding woman who stabbed a stranger in a shocking and unprovoked attack was jailed for 10 years last week.

Police said Nardein Murrihy's victim, 31, was lucky to be alive after the violent thug plunged a blade into his back and arm following a bust-up in the town-centre.

A judge heard how the attack happened after the pair clashed in St Mary's Butts, Reading, in the early hours of the morning.

An argument broke out before Murrihy, aged 23, drew the blade and carried out the "horrific sustained assault".

Murrihy, of Basingstoke Road, Reading, was convicted of grievous bodily harm with intent and possessing a knife in public. She was jailed for 10 years.

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: "The sentencing was in connection with an incident in the early hours of 16 June 2016, when Murrihy and another woman approached a 31-year-old man in St Mary's Butts, Reading.

"An altercation took place and Murrihy then stabbed the man with a knife. He sustained injuries to his arm, lower left side and back."

Police tracked Murrihy down and charged her with a single charge of grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of a knife in public, She denied the offences at first, but she was convicted by jurors following a trial at Reading Crown Court.

On Friday, a judge sentenced her to 10 years in prison, including a four year license period and a 12 month concurrent charge for carrying the knife.

Detective Constable Jon Nicholls, investigating officer, added: "This was a violent and unprovoked attack in public against a stranger who was walking through Reading at night.

"This was a horrific sustained assault using a knife and it was purely down to luck that the victim's injuries were not worse, or even fatal.

"The sentence reflects the seriousness of the assault and the extreme violence used by Murrihy against the victim."

Sharna Medford, aged 19 and from Caversham, also stood trial in the case but she was acquitted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.