A 24-YEAR-OLD man who slashed his brother across the face with a knife during a drunken brawl has been sentenced to a min-imum of four years in prison.

Shaun Stellenboom, of Bedford Terrace, Haslingden, was drinking with his brother, John, at their mother’s house, in Whitebirk Drive, in Blackburn.

The defendant and the victim’s argument got heated, and the court heart that Stellenboom said: ‘I’ll stab anyone’, and his brother said ‘well stab me then’.

Stellenboom pulled a knife from his jacket pocket and started to brandish it.

The two brothers struggled and, as the defendant threw a blow holding the knife, he slashed the defendant’s face from his mouth to his ear. The incident happened on November 5.

The injury, measuring around six inches, needed a number of stitches. He also suffered injuries to his chest, right thigh, and stomach, during the struggle.

Stellenboom, who has previous convictions involving knives, pleaded guilty to section 18 wounding with intent.

He was given an indeterminate sentence and was told, by judge Pamela Badley, he would serve a min- imum of four years in prison. Once released, he will be on licence for the rest of his life.

Judge Badley said: “There is a pattern of behaviour from your previous convictions showing the unpredictability and excitability of being in possession of a bladed object. I am concerned about your unpredictable behaviour with knives.Your fascination with knives is something I consider to be dangerous.

“I am not convinced that the risk can be managed within a sentence that gives a release date.”