Thug jailed for Vic stabbing attack

A callous thug claimed he was on an "big bender" when he chased down his victim and stabbed him in the back before stealing his belongings.

Jake Wakelin admitted to stabbing his victim in the back, slicing his spleen and stealing the man's bag in an attack at Ballarat in December 2017.

The 26-year-old followed the victim in a car, got out and chased him down before he knocked him to the ground and stabbed him twice in the back, the County Court of Victoria was told.

"At the time of this offending you were on a 'big bender' smoking marijuana and using methamphetamine daily," Judge Frank Saccardo said.

Wakelin told a corrections staff member he had been on the bender during the attack and felt the victim deserved what "he got", the court heard.

The attack left the victim in hospital for days with a 15cm slash across his back and cuts to his spleen.

He showed a "callous indifference" to his victim's injuries and left him bleeding on the footpath, Judge Saccardo said in his sentencing remarks.

A forensic psychiatrist found the stabber was unable to feel empathy for his victim and had no regret over his actions.

Wakelin has a lengthy prior history including assault, theft and burglary convictions, the court was told.

He also pleaded guilty to other charges including driving offences and possessing a controlled weapon.

The stabber was sentenced to 45 months behind bars, with a non parole period of 32 months.