Homeless man tried to murder Good Samaritan who let him sleep on the sofa

A homeless man tried to murder a Good Samaritan who let him stay in his home.

Mark Field had been allowed to stay at his victim's home after he was seen sleeping on the streets. But, after being given a roof over his head for four months, Field savagely attacked the man in a completely unprovoked attack.

The 47-year-old repeatedly stabbed him in the back for no reason as he played the piano, a court heard. He stabbed him twice to the arm and four times in the back but fortunately survived.

Now Field, who was convicted of attempted murder by jurors at Newcastle Crown Court, has been jailed for 18 years.

The court heard the victim had found Field living on the streets in Gateshead, in the North East, and gave him money and allowed him to sleep on his couch at his home in the town. Judge Edward Bindloss said: "That was an act of charity and kindness.

"You told the police he helped you and was a good listener. You said 'We got on really well, he is a kind and decent man'. He said 'All I have done is help him, there's no reason he would attack me, he's never been violent towards me before'."

On July 9 last year, Field, who has variously said he had consumed either three or six litres of cider, suddenly tried to murder his host. Judge Bindloss said: "Mr Pearson, who is a musician, started playing the piano and while his back was turned you picked up a knife, opened the blade and launched your attack."

The victim, who was stabbed four times to the back and twice to the arm, managed to get out of the house and call 999 and he was taken to the RVI in Newcastle. A pathologist said at least one of the stab wounds passed through his chest cavity and the arm injuries were from attempts to defend himself.

He lost a lot of blood,