A MAN in his 70s who stabbed another male in a confrontation over the lending of money has been jailed for three years and four months.

Kenneth Shaw drove 15 miles from his caravan at Milnthorpe to Caton, near Lancaster, where the attack took place.

The victim, Mark Barton, was attacked without warning at his home late one night last July, after telling the defendant he would sort out the matter relating to the money owed.  He was stabbed in the lower rib cage with a kitchen knife which caused a one-a-half-centimetre wound that required stitches.

Shaw, 73, of Burnt Barrow, Storth, had pleaded guilty to a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Preston Crown Court heard that the defendant had been a father figure to Susan Barton and her husband Mark.  At one stage Shaw lent the couple £70,000 to help Mr Barton's business and maintain the house.  It was agreed the money would be paid back by paying for Shaw's caravan, any holidays, plus anything else he needed.

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Late one night last July the defendant turned up at Mr Barton's address in Caton saying he needed to know when he would get some money.  Mr Barton said he would sort it out and needed to speak to his wife before ringing him next day.

The court heard Shaw told him: "I don't think so" and stabbed him.

Rachel Woods, defending, said it had been an isolated incident which Shaw bitterly regretted.  He had not intended to drive to the other man's home and stab him, but to confront him.  The defendant had told police he had gone there to warn Mr Barton.

His actions that night had resulted in him losing everything.

The judge, Recorder John Corless, said it was by good fortune that the harm caused to the victim was relatively minimal.