A KNIFEMAN stabbed his neighbour in the neck in anger after the victim 'mooned' in front of his home in Longford.

Matthew Kershaw, of Clough Avenue, is now serving a nine-and-a-half year sentence after pleading guilty to possession of a bladed article and wounding with intent.

The court heard how the 50-year-old had been close friends with the victim since they were teenagers.

But that relationship had soured after Joanne Sherratt, who had previously been living with the victim, moved into Kershaw's ground-floor flat.

On June 8, Kershaw and Sherratt had been involved in a verbal altercation with another neighbour.

Hours later, the victim along with two others decided to drop their trousers outside Kershaw's home to show their contempt for the way he had acted earlier.

After noticing the group on his CCTV cameras at around midnight, Kershaw left his home armed with a combat knife and an extendable police baton.

Prosecuting, Trevor Parry-Jones told the court that 'a red mist had fallen over his mind and destroyed his logical thinking'.

Kershaw claimed he passed the baton to Sherratt as he feared for their safety but this was dismissed by judge David Aubrey, QC.

He said: "The victim did not come to your house seeking confrontation in any way whatsoever. He had not come to your house for violence.

"He had, albeit unwisely, in the knowledge you had surveillance cameras, come to show his contempt so he and others dropped their trousers to show their buttocks to the CCTV cameras.

"It was then and then only that you decided in temper and anger to show what you were about and you came out armed with weapons."

The court heard how the victim noticed Kershaw, who was shouting obscenities, was carrying a knife and grabbed his arm.

The judge described this action by the victim as 'acting defensively' while Kershaw was 'acting aggressively'.

A struggle then unfolded where the victim was stabbed in the neck and Kershaw suffered an injury to his head while both men were on the floor.

Speaking during an earlier hearing on Monday, the victim said: "I felt this pull on my neck and I had seen the blood.

"I panicked and let go. I felt that my throat was hanging out and feared for my life."

The victim took shelter in a car while he waited for medical assistance.

While on the phone to the emergency services, Kershaw was heard saying ‘you come for it you get it’.

At the same time, he tried to cover up the crime and hide the knife.

Kershaw and Sherratt, who were both described as of previous good character, were taken into custody where they were later charged with attempted murder.

But, following legal discussions, the defendants were invited to plead to alternative charges.

Defending Kershaw, Steven Swift told the court that this was a 'tragic case of friends falling out and near fatal consequences'.

He added that Kershaw was 'sincerely remorseful' for his actions while Benjamin Knight, who was representing Sherratt, said she was shocked and distressed by what had happened.

Sherratt, who could be seen wiping away tears in the dock, pleaded guilty to possession of a weapon and affray. 

She was handed a 12-month sentence at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday but, due to the time she has already served, she is expected to be released imminently.