A man who stabbed an old acquaintance in a frenzied attack on the steps of Kidderminster Hospital has been jailed for six-and-a-half years.

Gary Arland came across 55-year-old victim Michael Murrihy at the hospital after the two had been fighting at The Sportsman pub, Kidderminster.

Arland, aged 41, was knocked unconscious during the afternoon pub fracas on August 5 and went to hospital.

It was there that he came across Mr Murrihy in the car park, took a craft knife from his pocket and slashed his victim on the chest, neck and abdomen. He had emergency surgery and may have died had the attack not happened close to the hospital.

Mr Francis Laird, prosecuting, told Birmingham Crown Court yesterday the victim had suffered a “gaping wound” to his abdominal wall as a result of the attack.

“Arland arrived at Kidderminster Hospital and was armed with a knife,” he said. “He approached Mr Murrihy and a confrontation occurred. He then began to attack Mr Murrihy with the knife, he was using slashing motions.”

Mr Peter Fortune, defending, said Arland had been drinking on the afternoon of the attack. He said the two men had shook hands before trouble broke out at the pub and Arland was only carrying the knife because he had been doing some DIY.

Arland, who used to live in Kidderminster and Bewdley but had just moved to Thorn Street, Worcester, before the attack, admitted wounding with intent.