A drunk who used a kitchen knife to stab in the back a man who had tried to help him has been jailed for three and a half years at Worcester Crown Court.

Gary Hollis accused John Mills of 'grassing' on him to police after he was arrested for burglary.

The men played snoooker together before Hollis, who had an alcohol problem, knifed Mr Mills with the eight-inch blade at the defendant's flat.

The victim suffered a collapsed lung from the wound close to his right shoulder blade but made a full recovery.

Two months earlier, Hollis had broken into an industrial unit in Redditch and stolen a car, said Jonathan Dewsbury, prosecuting.

But after the Corsa was abandoned, blood stains found by police on the vehicle matched Hollis' DNA sample.

Mr Mills had nothing to do with his arrest.

The defendant had a long record going back to 1985 which included a six-year jail sentence for robbery.

Hollis, aged 32, of Winslow Close, Redditch, admitted unlawful wounding and burglary.

Recorder Daniel Pearce-Higgins QC told him: 'You are a menace when in drink.'

The defendant played snooker in a Redditch social club on February 26 before going to Mr Mills' home where Hollis secretly obtained the knife.

They bought more drink on the way to Hollis' home and consumed it there.

Hollis then asked Mr Mills to get his wallet from his jacket. And as he was bending down, Mr Mills was stabbed.

Mr Dewsbury said Mr Mills managed to disarm his attacker and twice stamped on his head before escaping.

Hollis was ashamed of his violence against a man who had befriended him following his release from jail, said William Rickarby, defending.

The 'grassing' accusation could not be true.

He had spent most of his adult life in jail because of crimes caused by alcohol abuse, said Mr Rickarby, who added: "He has no memory of the incident which has shocked him.

"He has blighted the lives of so many others and is concerned about his victims.

"He is worried he might end up killing someone in drink and has expressed a determination to change his way of life."