A man said "oo, that hurt" after being stabbed in the chest outside a pub by a barred customer.
Colin Shannon shouted "have some of that" as he knifed his victim at the Ship Hotel in New Brighton. He embarked upon his savage attack after being confronted as he abused a barmaid who had earlier banned him from the establishment.
Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday afternoon, Thursday, that 52-year-old Adam Najis went to the pub where he was a regular at around 5.30pm on July 5 last year after finishing work. Zahra Baqri, prosecuting, said the self-employed decorator spent the evening with friends drinking John Smith's and described the night as "nice, with no issues".
READ MORE: 'Bald Bonsai' gives judge thumbs up after being jailed for 15 years
As he left the premises with a mate, he saw a female member of staff sat on the doorstep outside having a cigarette. As Mr Najis walked away, Shannon approached her.
The 54-year-old, of Penkett Road in Liscard, had been involved in an "altercation" at the pub with an "elderly gentleman" - who was also a local - around a month previously. He returned at around midday on the day of the stabbing, but the woman told him he "had to apologise" to the pensioner before he would be allowed back in.
However Shannon, who visited once a week to play pool, instead responded "aggressively" and told her he would punch the man. He spent the rest of afternoon and evening drinking elsewhere before attending once more at around 11pm having armed himself with a knife.
The thug told the employee "it was her fault" and was "getting right in her face, towering over her, pointing his finger at her" with his "aggressive body language" leaving her "deeply uncomfortable". Mr Najis returned to intervene and pushed Shannon away, telling him "not to speak to her in that manner".
The defendant punched him, and he returned a blow. The knifeman then pulled the weapon from his pocket and jabbed it towards the complainant's chest as he said: "Have some of that."
Shannon ran away from the scene after the stabbing. Mr Najis meanwhile was heard to say "oo, that hurt".
He "initially thought it was a forceful punch" and only realised he had been stabbed when he looked down to see a bloody hole in his t-shirt. Members of the public came out of the pub in order to give him first aid after he suffered two wounds to his chest and abdomen, as well as a cut to his arm.
One of the blows from the knife had penetrated his bowel and bladder. Mr Najis had to undergo emergency surgery and remained in hospital for six days before being discharged on July 11.
A statement read out to the court on his behalf described how he was left unable to work for 28 weeks afterwards, adding: "Waking up in intensive care was traumatic for myself and my family. The past six months of my life have been ruined."
Police visited Shannon's house that night, but he was not in. He handed himself in the next day, telling officers: "I need to be arrested after what happened."
Mark Phillips, defending, told the court: "He had been in a previous argument in relation to another customer, and this defendant felt he had been treated unfairly. The defendant did not go out on that evening with the intention of hurting anybody.
"He tells me he had originally taken the knife because he had intentions of hurting himself. At some stage, his view changed from hurting himself to having the knife for protection because he was going back to the pub and he was scared at what might happen there.
"He has to accept that, if you carry a knife, there is always a danger that someone is going to get seriously hurt. He is extremely remorseful for his actions."
Shannon, who has five previous convictions for 15 offences, admitted wounding with intent and possession of a bladed article in a public place. Appearing via video link to HMP Altcourse, he was jailed for four-and-a-half years.
A restraining order imposed will also prevent him from entering the Ship Hotel for five years. Sentencing, Recorder Eric Lamb said: "You chose to take out the knife, you chose to use it and you chose to stab him with it.
"The impact on your victim was substantial. I accept yours is a case in which you have demonstrated true remorse."
READ NEXT: Murder accused turns to teen and shouts 'he done it and he knows he did it' in court
Man in Concert Square video boasted he was wanted man on Facebook
Dad who fled Liverpool after being shot in mistaken identity jailed for drugs operation
Man admits he was 'out of order' after hitting Tesco security guard with machete
Man 'bullied and abused' woman who was helping him find a job
