A man who stabbed a drinking pal with a Samurai sword because he thought he was trying to steal his mum’s morphine has been jailed for seven years and three months.

Terence Ryan brandished the blade as he thought he had caught Lee Sparkes rifling a cupboard where the powerful prescription drugs were kept.

But 40-year-old Ryan insisted he never meant to cause any serious harm when he set about him with the two-and-a-half foot long weapon.

As a result of the attack the 38-year-old suffered a collapsed lung and spent four days in hospital, but is thought to have otherwise made a full physical recovery.

Ryan, of Exeter Street, pleaded not guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm but was convicted following a trial last month.

The jury at Swindon Crown Court heard how the pair had been out drinking on Thursday February 7 before going back to Ryan’s Railway Village home.

As they continued boozing in the afternoon the victim went to the kitchen to make a sandwich while his host went upstairs to use the toilet.

When he came back down he saw the cupboard under the stairs was open and assumed his guest had been pinching drugs.

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Terence Ryan Picture: WILTSHIRE POLICE

In the ensuing fracas the defendant got the sword which he waved at his victim who grabbed hold of the blade as he backed away, cutting his hand.

As the victim fled, Ryan then jabbed him under the left armpit causing a half inch puncture wound and penetrating his lung.

Mr Sparkes managed to get outside and called the police. Officers found him collapsed and covered in blood close to the Glue Pot pub.

After he was arrested, Ryan was heard saying: “I stabbed him up, he robbed my mum’s drugs, man.

“He is lucky that is all he got. He is lucky he didn’t die.”

And it was later found he sent texts to Mr Sparkes’ former partner boasting: “I just cut your ex up.”

The court heard that Ryan has significant mental health issues and takes anti-psychotic medication, which he is not meant to combine with alcohol. Soon after his arrest he was breath tested and found to be more than twice the legal drink-drive limit.

Lucie Stoker, defending, said he had been working hard in custody while on remand and accepted he was facing a lengthy jail term.

She said: “Mr Ryan was overreacting, but to a genuine and real concern he had to his mother and her medication.

“It is clear from the trial and pre-sentence report that Mr Ryan’s health condition is a significant concern for him and continues to be and is a trigger for unstable behaviour.”

The court heard he had post traumatic stress disorder and emotionally unstable personality disorder.

Jailing him, Judge Peter Crabtree pointed out the offence was out of character for a man who had not been in trouble for 16 years.

He said: “The impact of alcohol and drugs would have likely affected your judgement.”