A 44-YEAR-OLD Netherton man who savagely stabbed a man in the stomach after an argument in Dudley town centre has been jailed for six years.

Judge Amjad Nawaz at Wolverhampton Crown Court told Adam Scarlett it was a nasty unprovoked attack and it was down to good fortune the victim had not suffered far more serious injuries.

Anderito Tavaarez had been talking to friends when he was stabbed by Scarlett and he had to have seven stitches inserted into the wound at Russells Hall Hospital.

Scarlett, of Halesowen Road, had denied causing grievous bodily harm with intent and possessing an offensive weapon - a knife.

But he was found guilty on both charges after the jury retired to consider the evidence at the end of his trial.

In his defence, Scarlett maintained to the panel the trouble had been started by Mr Tavaarez and his friends and he had been acting in self-defence.

Jabeen Akhtar, defending, said Scarlett - who had previous convictions for offences involving violence - continued to stress his innocence.

She told the court the injury sustained by Mr Tavaarez had not been long lasting and he had since made a full recovery.

Scarlett, she went on, had not been in trouble with police for some considerable time before the incident.