A former scaffolder who nearly killed a man after he stabbed him has been jailed.
Nicholas McClean plunged a kitchen knife into Isaac Cook, damaging his liver. Bristol Crown Court heard the single wound was within a whisker of causing a fatal injury.
McClean, 31, of no fixed address, denied wrongdoing but was convicted of wounding with intent on January 23 after a trial last month.
Judge Julian Lambert jailed him for 13 years. He told McClean: "You've got a violent temper, little self-control and little fear of prison. This was a wholly unnecessary loss of temper. You stabbed a man with a kitchen knife.
"A single wound penetrated his thorax and damaged his liver. It was 2mm short of a major blood vessel and he very nearly died."
The stabbing occurred in Weavers Mill Close, St George.
A probation officer reported to the judge that McClean had come to accept the jury's guilty verdict and had expressed significant remorse.
She said he had a troubled early life and became addicted to crack cocaine from the age of 17 to 19, but had been able to detox while in custody for robbery.
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Anthony Bignall, defending, said: "Mr McClean must be given credit having shifted to acceptance of what he's done and remorse."
Mr Bignall said McClean had worked as a scaffolder and on fairs and, before the offence, he was beginning to feel like his life was settling down.
The court heard he had his own accommodation and access to his children at weekends.
Mr Bignall told the court: "As a result of the offence which he very much regrets all that's fallen apart. As he said to the probation board, he's got to face the music."
