A MAN was stabbed through the penis after a trivial row in a pub turned to violence.

The savage knife wound went through the 64-year-old victim's manhood, into his groin, and narrowly missed his femoral artery - which could have had fatal consequences, a court heard.

As 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 has today been 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.

Mr Flood mentioned to Walker that he had heard rumours that he owed someone £60, which angered Walker, who then 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 pub, 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 Royal Bolton Hospital instead.

The victim said the pain he suffered was "indescribable".

The swelling has only recently subsided and he is concerned about his sexual performance and issues relating to that, said Mr Parry-Jones.

Mr Flood, who was discharged after three days in hospital, has been advised to give it time but is now an anti-depressants and is stressed in public.

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

When questioned, Walker, a former joiner, of Meadowbank Avenue, Atherton, said he had stabbed him "impulsively", although when quizzed further he 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, the court was told.