AN alcoholic who stabbed his friend in the stomach after a marathon festive drinking session has been locked up for two-and-a-half years.

Martin Corbett is said to have reacted angrily to being challenged about his behaviour at his former partner's home and knifed Kevin Wade.

Corbett, 53, was not supposed to be at the house in Middlesbrough because of a restraining order taken out by his ex after she was assaulted.

But prosecutor Sue Jacobs said the former partner had not objected to him being there boozing with others on Christmas Day last year.

After falling asleep and continuing to drink the next day, Corbett, Mr Wade and another friend went to the off-licence when they ran out.

Mrs Jacobs said Corbett was spoiling for a fight with his ex-partner's son, and picked up a television when he was told to calm down.

He then rushed to the kitchen, grabbed a knife with a seven-inch blade and attacked Mr Wade before being bundled out of the house.

Corbett, of Borough Road, Middlesbrough, admitted malicious wounding and breaching the restraining order imposed by magistrates.

The court heard that he had assaulted his former partner a number of times and was on a suspended prison sentence at the time of the stabbing.

His barrister David Lamb described Corbett as a chronic alcoholic and said the attack was a single blow rather than prolonged.

Judge Howard Crowson told him: "Fortunately, the consequences were less serious than they might have been with a knife attack, but it is a serious matter."