Shrewsbury man jailed for stabbing best friend at Christmas Day celebration

Peter Richardson, 29, left his friend Stephen Rowson in intensive care for four days with life-threatening injuries following the attack, which happened in the early hours of Boxing Day 2013.

Richardson had been a guest at Mr Rowson's home on Christmas evening, but had become drunk, crude and offensive towards his friend's wife, Shrewsbury Crown Court heard.

Mr Geoffrey Dann, prosecuting, said that Mr Rowson's parents and his wife's parents were also present celebrating Christmas.

Mr Dann said: "From upstairs he could hear Peter Richardson being loud and crude. He came downstairs and told him to shut up and that he needed to sort his life out. There was then an exchange of words between them, then Richardson came towards Mr Rowson punching at him and grabbing hold of him."

The court heard that the pair ended up in the kitchen with Mr Rowson on top of his friend.

Mr Dann said Mr Rowson had allowed his friend to get up, but the guest had then grabbed a kitchen knife from the sideboard.

He said: "Mr Rowson says that Mrs Rowson was between them and he was trying to get the knife off him to protect his wife. There was then a coming together and a stab by the knife into Mr Rowson's armpit, which bleed profusely."

Surgeons said the attack by Richardson, of Harlescott Crescent, Shrewsbury, left Mr Rowson with a six-inch wound that required a large blood transfusion.

The court heard that the combination of shock and the amount of blood required left them in no doubts that the injuries were life-threatening.

Excerpts from a witness impact statement read to the court described how Mr Rowson had not known whether he wanted to press charges against his friend, who had been best man at his wedding. Read by Mr Dann, the statement added: "It has been an emotional 18 months for me, physically and emotionally coming to terms with what Pete did."

Mr William Rickarby, for Richardson, said his client had picked up the knife because he had been fearing for his safety. Sentencing, Judge Robin Onions said that people who use knives to inflict serious injuries must go to jail.

He said: "It is apparent that your behaviour at times was inappropriate. It was perhaps in drink meant by you as a joke but it was offensive and crude, embarrassing Mrs Rowson when her parents were present."

Judge Onions said that he did not believe Richardson would have used the knife if he was sober.

Richardson, who had pleaded guilty to a charge of wounding at a previous hearing, was sentenced to 21 months custody and made the subject of a restraining order not to approach Mr Rowson or his family.