A cricket umpire who tried to kill a pensioner at a pornographic cinema in despair at being evicted from his flat was jailed for 10 years yesterday.

Simon Brade, 44, picked out 74 year-old David Meads at random after walking into the Sunset Cinema in London's Soho.

CCTV footage showed Brade plunging a knife into his victim's neck as an x-rated film played on screen on May 20.

Brade, a delivery driver for Tesco.com, later claimed he carried out the stabbing so he would have a place to stay in prison.

He told police: "I wanted to take my frustration out on anyone because I have been evicted."

The Old Bailey heard he had been living at a flat in Henley for four years when he was told he had to leave.

Brade, of no fixed abode, admitted attempted murder at court last month. He said in his interview that he had become depressed because properties were too dear in Henley.

Prosecutor Roger Smart said: "He went on to say that he decided that he needed to do something to get him into prison in order that he would have somewhere to stay and that he resolved to achieve this by taking someone out."

He picked out the Sunset Cinema in Brewer Street, Soho because there were not many people around.

After the stabbing, Mr Meads staggered to the foyer and collapsed. He needed four stitches during a three-day hospital stay.

Brade handed himself in to a police officer.

Judge Steven Kramer QC told Brade: "There is risk to the public if you are not kept out of circulation for a substantial period of time and given help."

Brade umpired friendly matches on Sundays for Henley Cricket Club. Club chairman Paul Bradbury said: "He was a peculiar type of bloke who did his own thing. I am very saddened to hear these bizarre events."