A NORTH-EAST thug has been jailed for four and a half years for stabbing a man through the arm with a kitchen knife – leaving his victim fearing he was going to die.

Glyn Collier, 44, attacked the man after a row over drugs, a court heard.

The 34-year-old victim saw the blade of five to six inches go through one side of his forearm and out of the other, sending blood pumping out on to the pavement.

Collier attacked the man outside his home in Stoke after the pair had clashed earlier in the day about missing drugs money, Plymouth Crown Court heard.

Collier, working at Devonport Dockyard at the time, later told the police he feared for his life when a knife was held to his throat.

Judge Paul Darlow jailed Collier, of Gladstone Street, Hartlepool, for four and a half years.

He pleaded guilty to assault causing grievous bodily harm with intent and had earlier admitted possession of a knife in public during the incident in Albert Road on July 26.

Jason Beal, prosecuting, said Collier and the victim had argued earlier that day and Collier drove away, armed himself with a knife and returned to the lobby of the block of flats where the man lived at 11.30pm.

The defendant challenged him to come down to the lobby, and when the victim saw the knife, he said: “Are you really going to stab me?”

Collier then stabbed and slashed at the victim several times as he retreated across Albert Road.

Mr Beal said: “The complainant put up his arm to protect his face. As he did so, Collier stabbed him in his arm.

“He looked down to see the blade protruding through his arm, pointing towards his chest.”

The court heard that blood was pumping from his arm as witnesses tried to restrain Collier.

Mr Beal said: “(The victim) later told police: ‘I seriously felt I was going to die. He stabbed at me about 12 times. If I had not been so quick on my feet, I would have been stabbed more times’.”

The victim was taken to hospital to be treated for cuts to his forearm and his ulna was chipped by the blade.

The court heard that Collier had convictions for violence, but not since the early 1990s.

Francesca Whebell, for Collier said his mind was affected by the traumatic events earlier in the day. She added: “He was terrified for his life.”

Miss Whebell said Collier was threatened by armed men inside the block of flats and a knife held to his throat.

DC Brett Goudie, of Devonport police, said after the hearing: “The police will not tolerate people being in possession of offensive weapons in a public place and using them to cause significant injury.

“This attack could have ended in tragedy if not for members of the public’s medical assistance at the scene. I would like to thank the public for contacting the police. Without their support justice would not have been done.”