A MAN was jailed for four-and-a-half years yesterday after admitting a stabbing which left his victim fighting for his life.

Sean Payne, 27, of Hartington Road, Stockton, Teesside, admitted wounding Alan Calpin with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm, on New Year's Day this year.

Philip Lancaster, prosecuting, said the stabbing happened after two of Payne's friends had been involved in two violent encounters with a friend of Mr Calpin.

When Payne heard about the incidents, said Mr Lancaster, he went outside, in St George's Road, Grangetown, and threatened Mr Calpin's group with a lock knife. The men chased Payne, who then turned and stabbed Mr Calpin once in the chest.

Mr Lancaster said the victim's right lung collapsed and, during surgery for the wound, his heart stopped and he had to be resuscitated.

He said Payne had been beaten and left unconscious in the street, where police found him. After several days' hospital treatment he told police he could not remember anything about the incident.

Johnny Walker, mitigating, said it had been medically proven his client was suffering from amnesia due to the severe head injuries he had received in a beating after the stabbing.

He said the incident was out of character and that Payne deeply regretted it.