A DAD who left his "anti-social" next door neighbour fighting for his life after thrusting a Samurai sword into his thigh during a row is behind bars for 20 months.

Irritated Gary Murray, 26, had gone round to Dale Perry's home to complain peacefully about noise and had been abused by the victim's partner who threw a rock towards his house.

Mr Perry then armed himself with a cricket bat and was said to have assaulted Murray in the defendant's garden.

Murray responded by taking the ornamental sword from his house and slashing Mr Perry's leg, severing the femoral artery and causing a nine inch gash, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Mr Perry was bleeding profusely and residents who ran to his aid managed to stem the flow until paramedics arrived to stabilise him.

He was in such a grave condition both ambulance crew members had to work on him whilst a police officer drove the vehicle to hospital.

The victim had blood transfusions and but for surgical intervention could have died, the court heard.

Murray, of Fir Street, Burnley, had earlier admitted wounding in March. The defendant, who has previous convictions for assault, was told by Recorder Ahmed Nadim: "It’s true that Dale Perry presented a nuisance to you but what you did was not proportionate or justifiable."

Silvia Dacre, prosecuting, said the victim was stabbed at the top of his leg and had to stay in hospital two weeks.

The court heard Murray had run off from the scene and was not arrested for about a week. He told police he had not realised the injury was so serious and claimed he had not come forward because of work commitments..

Philip Holden, for Murray, said he had intended to scare Mr Perry off. He only used the sword after he had been assaulted, to prevent further attack. The barrister said: "He accepts that was a disproportionate reaction to the level of violence that was being used against him."

Murray, who lived with his partner and six-year-old child, had resided at his house without any problems until Mr Perry moved in and his “anti-social behaviour” started. He had a good work record and was well thought of.

Mr Holden said: "He is a hard working family man. It’s a real crying shame that this man with some real promise for the future should find himself in a crown court for an offence of this nature."