A 36 year old man who attacked another man and seriously wounded him because he was 'in a funk after someone took his cider' in the hotel where he was staying, was jailed for sixteen months today.

David Collins, of Worcester Street, Gloucester - but residing at the London Hotel, on London Road, Stroud, at the time of the assault - pleaded guilty to causing Royston Hall grievous bodily harm on December 11, 2017.

Prosecutor, Chris Smyth, told Judge Michael Cullum: “He brandished a knife. There was a struggle. In the course of the struggle Mr Hall ended up with the injury to his hand.”

“He suffered injuries,” Judge Cullum said, “I suspect it is a tussle over the knife.”

Mr Smyth explained that Mr Hall was a resident at the Hotel.

At around midnight , he heard a noise outside his room, went outside and saw Collins 'urinating on the carpet near his door'.

“He kept on going,” the prosecutor said. “It seemed he was completely intoxicated.

“Mr Hall put down newspaper to soak up the urine. He heard the defendant being argumentative with other residents.

“He was kicking on door of a neighbour asking where his cider was.

“Later he kicked open Mr Hall's door and said where is his cider. Mr Hall pushed him out.

“The defendant came back at him and was brandishing a small blade of a Swiss army knife.

“Mr Hall backed away and fell over. The defendant fell onto him.

“Mr Hall had a cut to his hand. He escaped and put a towel on his hand.

“The defendant followed him into room, but Mr Hall had the presence of mind to tell him to get lost, and called for ambulance

Mr Smyth said Collins was 'marched out' of that room, and then he went to the receptionist and asked him for £2 for alcohol.

The receptionist noted he had blood on him and asked him what happened. Collins said: “Nothing.”

Mr Smyth said the police found Collins at BP Garage just down the road, where he was arrested.

Judge Cullum noted Mr Hall suffered 'a deep slice, to the base of thumb'.

Mr Smyth read a statement from Mr Hall about the incident: “It affected me more than I thought. I have become wary of what is happening outside in the corridor.

“I worry about people who may come in. I want to leave, I no longer feel safe.

“I am a carpenter by trade and my thumb now feels numb. I do not know how my work will be effected.”

Mr Smyth said the case was aggravated by Collin's 'extensive previous convictions and ongoing offending'.

Giles Nelson, representing Collins said his client had 'a pattern of offending with minor aggression'.

He said Collins was now in receipt of medication for ADHD, and touched on other mental health issues, he attributed to childhood experiences.

“He is bound to accept he has made a serious nuisance of himself,” Mr Nelson said. “He is prepared to try and break this cycle.

Imposing a sixteen month jail term, the judge said: “At age of 36 you have got 56 previous court appearances.

“Since this offence in December 2017, you have been in court about six times.

The judge referred to the contents of a report from a mental health professional: “You had an unsettled life from an early age.

“When a 10 year old is starting to abuse controlled drugs, it can rarely be said to be the fault of that 10 year old and not the circumstances.”

The judge noted references in the report to 'anti-social personality and unstable personality disorders'.

“But the offence you committed in disagreement, in alcohol, whilst on a suspended sentence, caused serious injury to a man's hand.

“There are not circumstances where it would be proper for me to suspend it.

“It will be immediate custodial sentence.”