A man has been jailed for eight years for stabbing another man in the chest in an attack outside a north Dorset pub.

James Ryan Harry Wall, 24, knifed his victim several times in the chest following an altercation outside The Red Lion pub in Gillingham before trying to clean the weapon with bleach.

At around 11pm on Sunday, May 13 2018 an altercation occurred in the pub car park involving a group of men, in which one man suffered minor facial injuries.

The men then left the scene but a number returned around 15 minutes later when another altercation occurred. During the incident Wall stabbed a 25-year-old local man a number of times in the chest area with a knife.

The victim was taken to hospital for treatment to stab wounds to his lower chest, abdomen and left shoulder, suffering a collapsed lung as a result.

Wall, of no fixed abode, returned to the flat where he had been staying in the town and attempted to clean the knife with bleach. He was arrested the following day.

The weapon used - a kitchen knife with a seven-inch blade - was later found in a carrier bag in a bush near the junction of Addison Close and New Road in Gillingham.

A 26-year-old man, of no fixed abode, was also charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent and possessing a bladed article but was found not guilty of both offences following the trial.

The prosecution dropped charges of perverting the course of justice and possessing a bladed article against an 18-year-old Ferndown woman during the trial and not guilty verdicts were formally entered.

Wall was found guilty of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of a bladed article in a public place, and was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court yesterday (28).

Detective Constable Gerald Marchant, of Weymouth CID, said: “This was a violent attack with a knife that left the victim with very nasty injuries.

“We will not tolerate the use of knives on the streets of

Dorset and will make every effort to ensure those who are responsible for committing such offences are brought to justice.”

Police said anyone concerned that someone is carrying a knife should report it at dorset.police.uk/do-it-online or call 101.