AN ‘ENRAGED’ man went looking for another fight minutes after stabbing his friend to death, a jury has heard.

Frank Donnelly, 34, of Lower Hazel Close, Blackburn, used such force in plunging a bread knife into David McGee, 42, at his home in Grindleton Road, Blackburn, the end of the blade damaged the victim’s spine.

Donnelly had spent March 2 drinking with McGee and another friend John Donarchy, the jury was told.

He then went to Roosters takeaway, Johnston Street, Bank Top, looking for a fight with a group of men who had earlier fled what the prosecution described as a ‘doss house’ in Grindleton Road, the court heard.

Donnelly denies the murder of ‘chronic alcoholic’ Mr McGee.

During the opening of a trial at Preston Crown Court, prosecutor Anthony Cross QC set out the case against him.

He painted a ‘sad and perhaps bleak picture’ of the ‘bipolar’ victim who had an ‘unhappy life’ growing up in care and was addicted to drink and drugs from his teen years.

He needed a carer, but had a girlfriend, Michelle Barnes, who didn’t approve of his friendship with Donnelly and Mr Donarchy, Mr Cross said.

Mr Cross QC said Mr McGee had struck a deal with a group of young men allowing them to use his rented home in Grindleton Road to drink and smoke cannabis away from their families, as Mr McGee spent most of his time staying with his girlfriend.

The jury was told that when the two pals arrived at the home at 8.45pm, the group were already there.

A drunk McGee was put upstairs to bed and Donnelly argued with the group.

He left, ‘issuing threats’, then returned around 10pm with Mr Donarchy and his girl-friend Angela Smith, the court heard.

He kicked at the front door and then swung a knife at one of the group who fled, with Donnelly in pursuit, Mr Cross said.

But CCTV of Higher Bent Gap Lane, behind Grindleton Road, captures Donnelly returning to the house with some concrete in his right hand and a knife ‘held like a dagger’ in his left.

The jury was told he smashed his way in and set about Mr McGee, stabbing him, cutting him and stamping on his face, leaving eye, thigh and hand wounds.

As he left, he threatened two witnesses and snapped the blade.

(Proceeding)