A BUILDER has been jailed for five years for stabbing a fellow drinker in the chest at Bordon Working MenÕs Club on Boxing Day last year.

Carl Forbes (40) was drunk and could not remember why he had cuts to his head and arms, so he stabbed Thomas Price (31) after his mother suggested Mr Price was responsible, Winchester Crown Court was told.

Forbes, formerly of Alma Road, Bordon, traced Mr Price to the packed working menÕs club in Varna Road and plunged a knife into his chest twice, shouting Òno-one does this to meÓ.

The court heard on Monday that Mr Price, of South Hurst, Whitehill, was stabbed with so much force the knife handle broke off, leaving the blade in his chest - five centimetres from his heart.

Prosecutor Janice Brennan said that Forbes, who now lives in Aldershot, had told revellers he was armed with a knife and would kill Mr Price for hurting him.

She said: ÒForbes had injuries on his head and arms but was so drunk he couldnÕt remember how they got there.

ÒApparently his mother told him that Mr Price, a fellow Boxing Day drinker, had hurt him earlier and he took that as a reason for stabbing him.

ÒForbes told friends he had a knife and after looking for Mr Price at his Bordon home, traced him back to the working menÕs club where the pair had drunk earlier.

ÒHe stabbed Mr Price twice in the chest, the second time missing the heart by five centimetres, before calmly leaving the packed club and walking home.

ÒWhen the police arrived to arrest Forbes, he was abusive, shouting: ÔThomas Price is a nark. I left the knife in him and hope he diesÕ.Ó

The court heard that Forbes, who pleaded guilty to wounding with intent, had always enjoyed Òlong and happy dealings with Bordon Working MenÕs ClubÓ.

Sally Hancox, defending, told the court that Forbes had a genuine belief that his unexplained injuries were caused by Mr Price and wanted to find out exactly what had happened.

ÒForbes had been drinking since midday and believed his mother when she told him Mr Price had hurt himÓ, she said.

ÒHe made a reckless decision which was ill-founded and ill-thought, but at the time believed it was justified.Ó

Sentencing Forbes to five yearsÕ imprisonment Judge Timothy Longbotham said that Forbes had no excuse for carrying out the vicious knife attack.

He told Forbes: ÒThe court can only assume you are a very different person in drink than you are when sober.

ÒEven if you did believe Mr Price hurt you, drink or revenge will never excuse a vicious knife attack on anyone.Ó