A man who killed a friend in a drunken knife incident at his Darwen home has been jailed for two years.

Brendan Mizon was among a group of people who had been drinking heavily when he took hold of a large kitchen knife and started fooling around with it.

Preston Crown Court heard that when another man knocked his hand away, he fell on to 47-year-old Neil Walsh, stabbing him in the leg and severing a vein and an artery. Mr Walsh died at the scene.

Mizon, 36, of Harwood Street, admitted manslaughter in May and judge Andrew Gilbart QC told him: "When a knife is wielded drunkenly, there is an inevitable risk of harm to someone."

Miss Louise Blackwell QC, prosecuting, said five people were at the defendant's home that evening, in May, including Mr Walsh. The blade came into contact with one of the men, Steven Almond, who received a small cut.

Miss Blackwell said he knocked Mizon's hand away, prompting him to fall on to Neil Walsh.

"He lost a very large volume of blood very quickly," she said.

"After the stabbing, strenuous attempts were made by all present to give assistance to Neil Walsh.

"Neighbours were called in. Nothing appeared to be working and a 999 call was made."

The court heard that when Mizon was found in bed by police and when arrested, he replied: "He has done it himself."

In interview, the defendant remembered picking up the knife to show it off, saying it was part of a collection bought by his girlfriend.

Mr Carl Hargan, defending, said Mizon had never attempted to suggest what happened was anything other than his fault.

Mizon had told a psychiatrist 'I feel awful. I have taken somebody's life. Somebody died because of my actions.' Mr Hargan said: "All the people were friends, all had been drinking.

"He is at a loss to know what he thought he was doing.

"No violence was contemplated or intended. There was foolish horseplay.

"The defendant, if anything, seems to be a sort of soft, quiet type of man. Since the offence he has stopped drinking."

Mr Walsh had learning difficulties and had been waiting to be allocated permanent accomm-odation.

He had been staying with his friend Tony Houghton in Clement Street at the time of his death.

Also at that time, Mr Walsh's sister Sharon Thomas-Fisher, 40, a care assistant, of Clement Street, Darwen, said her youngest brother had learning difficulties but would "never harm a fly".

She added: "He would help anybody he could. He was genuine and kind hearted. I can't imagine how this could have happened."