Drinking pal

jailed for

knife attack A MAN needed 30 stitches in wounds after he was attacked with scissors and a knife after he refused to give money to a friend.

A court heard how Colin Critchley, of Warrington Road, Leigh, was so worried for the friend he had attacked that he phoned for an ambulance.

The victim, Geoffrey Ince, was left with lacerated tendons and cuts and wounds to his arms, fingers and abdomen and had to undergo physiotherapy for his injuries.

The men were drinking buddies and often lent or borrowed money from each other. On this occasion Critchley had been with a group drinking and taking drugs in a small park in the centre of Leigh when he decided to go his friend's house.

Critchley forced his way into the house and demanded money. When Ince he said he hadn't got any cash Critchley attacked him with a pair of nail scissors.

He began prodding him with the scissors and then went into his kitchen and took a knife and used it to slash his victim.

Critchley, aged 31, of Warrington Road, Leigh, appeared for sentence at Bolton Crown Court. He had earlier admitted assaulting Ince with intent to rob on July 18 last year.

The court heard that Critchley had a criminal record including burglary, handling and assault. Defending Thomas Fitzpatrick said that the men had been friends and that they each used to borrow money from each other. Critchley now had a deep sense of disgust about what he had done. Recorder Philip Birkett QC said it was very serious attack which must have terrified his victim. He jailed him for four years.