A TOTTON man, labelled by the probation service as difficult, argumentative and disinterested, has been jailed for 32 months over a knife attack.

Serial offender Richard Taylor, 24, cut Phillip Lonsdale's arm after they had been drinking and got back to his flat.

Prosecutor Siobhan Linsley told Southampton Crown Court how a row flared in which punches were thrown. After Taylor had been restrained on the floor, Mr Lonsdale went into the conservatory to calm down.

Taylor however then removed two knives, one of them up to eight inches long, from a block in the kitchen.

He then approached Mr Lonsdale who had been pushed back against stairs.

He put his hands up to protect his face and was cut on a forearm, which required six stitches.

Taylor, of Sunset Road, Totton, admitted wounding, which put him in breach of a suspended sentence for handling war medals valued at £2,000 stolen in a burglary.

The court heard he had 30 convictions for 52 offences and was on licence from a near four year term for causing actual bodily harm and wounding inflicted in a street attack.

In mitigation, Susan Ridge said the attack had not been premeditated, he had been provoked but had used excessive self defence.