A Dunmow man was lucky that a stab wound which put him in hospital missed his vital organs, a court heard.
Paul Kleber's attacker, Anthony McHugh, 50, of Warners, Dunmow, admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday.
McHugh was jailed for six years, to be followed by an extended licence of three years.
Mr Kleber answered a knock on the door of his Dunmow flat on May 1 and was stabbed in the chest with a knife.
Robert Neil, prosecuting, said that Mr Kleber was taken to hospital and was fortunate that the wound did not damage any vital organs.
Mr Kleber and most of his family lived in Dunmow, said Mr Neil, and were in a state of disagreement. McHugh was friendly with one of the family who lived in the flat below Mr Kleber.
When McHugh heard about the disagreement, he went up to Mr Kleber's flat and knocked on the door. The two men exchanged words.
Mr Kleber felt a punch then a wet, warm feeling, and realised that he had been stabbed in the ribs with a three-inch bladed knife.
Mr Neil said that when McHugh was stopped by police in Braintree later that day, he said: "All right, I am guilty."
John Donnelly, mitigating, said that McHugh had drug and drink habits. He accepted he was in the wrong, but was fighting a friend's corner.
Published Thursday July 8, 2004
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