Man jailed for five and a half years for seriously wounding friend in knife attack

A man from Holywell has been jailed for five and a half years for stabbing another man and causing serious injuries.

Former soldier Anthony Nugent initially denied stabbing his friend Neil Johnson in the stomach after an all day drinking session.

Mr Nugent was due to go on trial on Monday but changed his plea to guilty when the prosecution produced a recording of a 999 call he made to the ambulance service.

Prosecutor Mr David Maidstone said Mr Nugent rang 999 and just before the operator spoke to him , at a point when he did not know the call was connected, he could be heard saying “My God, I have stabbed you mate.”

Mr Nugent pleaded guilty at Mold Crown Court to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm on June 1st.

In a victim impact statement, Mr Johnson said he was left traumatised and in pain.

He said he had had nightmares and could not understand why a so-called friend had done such a thing.

"He could have killed me. I feel lucky to be alive", he said.

The incident was described in full detail, with prosecutor Mr Maidstone describing how "his guts were literally hanging out.".

North Wales Police said Mr Nugent's sentence was "reassuring".