A MAN who stabbed a friend following a night out drinking has been jailed for three years.

A court heard how the walls at a house in Snowdon Avenue, Blackburn, were left blood spattered after the violent attack.

Asylum seeker Claudien Munhirwa was knifed in the forearm, but also sustained five hand wounds when he grappled with Donnovan Gibbs.

Gibbs, 38, of Ruthin Close, Blackburn had pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful wounding.

Mr Munhirwa, originally from the Congo, had previously lived with the defendant at his accommodation. He moved out several months later and went to live in Snowdon Avenue.

Mr Jeremy Grout-Smith, prosecuting at Preston Crown Court, said the man, the defendant and another man all went out drinking on May 7.

As they made their way home, Gibbs became aggressive with a taxi driver.

The defendant later rang Mr Munhirwa, asking him to visit him, but he said no.

A short time later, Gibbs went to the Snowdon Avenue address, demanding to speak to him.

But inside the home, Gibbs began stabbing him with a knife.

Mr Munhirwa later told police: "He was talking Jamaican while attacking me".

The man was stabbed on the left forearm.

He then sustained five hand wounds, but managed to disarm the defendant and leave the house for his own safety. The injuries needed 13 stitches, plus steristrips.

Police found blood on the floor and the wall of the house, in significant quantities.

Gibbs claimed to police that he was being attacked by the complainant at the time of the incident.

Mr Mark Smith, defending, said Gibbs knew that only a prison sentence would follow.

He accepted causing the injuries, which primarily resulted from the defendant being disarmed, he said.

Mr Smith said: "He expresses genuine remorse for what has happened to his friend. He apologises to the complainant."

Gibbs used to carry a knife for his protection when living in Jamaica, where a friend had been murdered, he added.

Judge Robert Brown said there was no justification for carrying a knife. He told Gibbs "Something caused your anger to turn into an attack upon Mr Munhirwa. Your first resort, it seems, was to take out your knife and stab him.

"There was a considerable struggle between you. The spread of blood was widespread.

"This was a serious and unprovoked attack with a knife.

"It is so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified".