A MAN who carried out what a judge called a “frenzied” attack on his brother-in-law has been jailed for six years.
Ian Steven stabbed his victim twice in the upper arm, leading to long term damage after a nerve was severed.
Preston Crown Court heard the 33-year-old victim feared he would die and was drifting in and out of consciousness following the attack at his home on Alexandra Road, St Annes, in May.
Steven, 38, of Carlton Road, St Annes, had pleaded guilty to a charge of wounding with intent at an earlier hearing.
Brett Gerrity, prosecuting, said the victim had been in the lounge of his home, sitting in an armchair watching television with his partner and her four children.
Steven appeared in the lounge and walked straight towards his brother-in-law, brandishing a knife.
He held the knife above his shoulder and was bringing it down, shouting at his victim.
The court was told the attack happened so quickly, the victim was only able to put an arm out to try to shield himself from the impact of the knife.
Steven immediately got on top of his brother-in-law and is thought to have tried to stab him six or seven times before the victim’s partner and children intervened and tried to pull him off.
Mr Gerrity added: “The victim believed at the time he may have been dying. He had no idea why he had been attacked.
“He was drifting in and out of consciousness, with much blood loss”.
The victim suffered two wounds to the upper arm, numbness in his right hand and the radial nerve - a nerve that supplies the upper limb - was severed.
The court heard Steven had previously been to his brother-in-law’s home uninvited, wanting to fight after claiming he knew someone who had attacked him.
Steven’s defence lawyer said her client had no recollection of what happened because he had been drinking all day.
Sophie Cartwright, defending, said Steven was a good father figure and had acted out of character.
She said he was remorseful for what happened.
Sentencing Steven to six years in jail, Judge Anthony Russell QC told him his actions were “disgraceful”.
He said: “The victim was completely innocent. You acted in a way that was quite disgraceful.
“He suffered various injuries to his arm, resulting in long term damage.
“It was a frenzied attack by you”.
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