A man who stabbed a priest in Singapore has been sentenced to four years and three months in jail.

38 year old Basnayake Keith Spencer had queued to receive Communion at a children’s mass at St Joseph's Church, Upper Bukit Timah in 2024 before stabbing Fr Christopher Lee Kwong Heng in the mouth with a 10cm knife.

Fr Christopher, who spent six days in hospital also received speech therapy and was off work for more than 40 days.

Basnayake, who admitted carrying multiple weapons in public without a lawful purpose, was also sentenced to nine strokes of the cane.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Xu Si Jia described his actions as “brazen and wholly unprovoked”, adding that it was a grave violation of public safety and peace that “struck at the heart of the sensibilities of the public”. She said the attack, in front of hundreds of people in the church could have caused mass panic and further injuries.

Toxicology tests at the time of the incident showed Basnayake was voluntarily intoxicated, having taken a combination of opiates and other controlled drugs.