A knife attacker who left a six-inch blade embedded in his victim's body was jailed for five years.

Jobless David Hall, 30, plunged the weapon into 47-year-old Mohinder Singh Mann's back during a drunken row at their shared home.

The knife snapped but, miraculously, Mr Mann was able to run for help despite the blade still being buried deep into his body.

Oxford Crown Court heard today how the incident happened at the men's home in Prospect Road, Banbury, last December.

Paul Reid, prosecuting, told the court Mr Mann, a Punjabi immigrant seeking political asylum in Britain, shared a house with Hall and confronted him about his untidiness.

He turned his back on Hall and felt "a blow" to his back, followed by more blows to his face. Mr Mann realised he had been stabbed when the handle of the knife fell to the floor. He ran to the house of a friend who took him to the Horton Hospital.

Surgeons found the blade still embedded in his back and could feel the bump of the knife's point through his stomach wall.

Mr Reid said: "The knife did not penetrate any vital organs or arteries."

Anthony Bury, defending, told the court Hall had a drink and drugs problem but could not remember what happened.

Hall pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and his plea was accepted by the court.

Judge Francis Allen told Hall: " You caused a terrible wound without any real justification and it is the second time that you have used a knife on someone."

Afterwards, Mr Mann, now fully recovered and living in Gatteridge Street, said, "I am very lucky to be alive."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.