A man was stabbed through the penis after a trivial altercation in a pub turned to violence, a court has heard.

The savage knife wound went through his manhood into his groin and narrowly missed his femoral artery with potential fatal consequences.

As the 64-year-old victim Terence Flood was tended by paramedics he was terrified to hear them say “it’s a bad one” and that he would not survive if they took him to the hospital originally planned.

Instead he was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was treated for the agonising wounds which also included defensive injuries to his left hand.

His attacker, 71-year-old acquaintance Alex Walker, who has no previous convictions, admitted wounding Mr Flood with intent and possessing a lock knife and was jailed for six years.

Sentencing the pensioner, Judge Robert Warnock said, “By sheer good fortune you did not cut the femoral artery, you would probably have killed him if you had.’

“You don’t know why you did it. The reason is your mind was completely befuddled by drink. No doubt being sober you are shocked to the core about what you have done.”

He said he had lost relatives including recently his wife “which may explain why you turned to drink.”

The judge said it was a tragedy particularly for the victim who has “continuing and significant cosmetic disability, pain and problems with his hand.”

Liverpool Crown Court heard that the incident happened on July 14 last year while the two men were by chance in The Pound Pub in Market Street, Atherton, near Wigan. Mr Flood mentioned to Walker that he had heard rumours that he owed someone £60 which angered Walker who invited him outside.

Mr Flood said he did not want to fall out with him and had just been trying to do him a favour and told him not to be “daft”. But Walker insisted so he went outside the Pound pub in Atherton, expecting to continue the verbal argument, said Trevor Parry-Jones, prosecuting.

“A scuffle occurred and Walker went partly to the floor on one knee and Mr Flood said, ‘behave yourself’ at which Walker lunged at him. He did not know what had happened. Someone shouted ‘oh my God’ and he became aware of blood.”

Paramedics planned to take him to hospital in Manchester but after realising the seriousness of the bleeding instead took him to the nearer Bolton hospital.

The victim said the pain he suffered was “indescribable”, said Mr Parry-Jones.

Mr Flood, who was discharged after three days in hospital, is now an anti-depressants and is stressed in public.

He needed seven stitches in wounds to two fingers and thumb on his left hand and can no longer clench his fist and left with disfiguring scars.

When questioned Walker, a former joiner, of Meadowbank Avenue, Atherton, said he had stabbed him “impulsively” though further quizzed admitted it took two hands to open the lock knife. He said he had drunk ten pints of

beer.

Steven Swift, defending, said that Walker carried the weapon as he had been mugged a couple of years before after a betting win.

After suffering tragedies in his life he was suffering from loneliness and resorted to drink.

Detective Constable Stuart Woodhead said: "What started out as a row between two drinking buddies quickly descended into something far more violent and far more dangerous, resulting in the victim suffering a stab wound to his penis.

"Walker maintained throughout our investigation that he did not mean to stab his 'friend' in the groin area.

"However, the fact of the matter is that he had armed himself with a knife and anytime a weapon is used during a fight - particularly when all involved are intoxicated - it has the potential to maim, cause serious injury or even kill someone.

"And as a result, the victim has been left with potentially life-changing injuries.

"I hope this case serves as a reminder to anyone who brings a weapon out with them with the intention of attacking someone else. Such aggressive and violent behaviour could not only leave someone with permanent scars, but will also land you in very serious trouble and a stint in prison."