A MAN who suffered serious injuries in a knife attack by a former friend has slammed the jail sentence imposed on his attacker.

Paul Guy was sentenced to 18 months by a judge at Preston Crown Court yesterday despite a plea by his defence barrister that he is not a danger to the public.

Guy, 23, of Earlsden Avenue, Earby, was originally charged with the attempted murder of Gerald Connor, but his guilty plea to wounding was accepted part way through his trial.

After the case, Mr Connor, 27, of Kenilworth Drive, Earby, said the sentence was too lenient.

"I was told wounding carried a maximum seven-year sentence and I would have been happy with that," said Mr Connor, who has not been able to work since the attack.

"I have been told he could be out of jail in six weeks. That's ridiculous. What kind of justice is that? I nearly died and he gets 18 months. The justice system is just a laugh."

Mr Connor underwent emergency surgery after the stabbing and had his gall bladder removed. He was made redundant in January without having been able to return to his job at Wolfenden Concrete, Kelbrook, because of his injuries.

The court heard Mr Connor was stabbed after an argument when he left the Station Hotel pub at Earby on August 30 last year. His injuries included a punctured bowel.

The prosecution claimed that Guy later told Mr Connor's girlfriend he hoped he would die. Roger Baldwin, defending, told the court: "This is basically a decent young man who on this particular occasion had too much to drink and behaved in a way which was out of character."

He said Guy had not intended to cause serious injury and got into an argument with Mr Connor and his girlfriend. "He has already paid a heavy price and been in custody for five and a half months. He has learned his lesson and is not a danger to the public."

Mr Justice Timothy Walker said both men had had more than enough to drink, and that Mr Connor had fully recovered from his appalling wounds.

He told Guy he accepted his remorse was genuine and that for the bulk of the time he had been in custody he had been facing a charge of attempted murder.

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