A SON has started a four-and-half year jail sentence for stabbing his 74-year-old father eight times in the stomach, chest and back in a drunken rage.

Following a heavy drinking session Colin Metcalfe plunged a seven-inch kitchen knife into his father Joseph as his 16 year-old son watched in horror at the family home in Old Lord's Crescent, Horwich.

Metcalfe senior had stormed into a bedroom where his son was in bed with his partner and ripped the sheets from the bed.

Colin Metcalfe, aged 49, ran downstairs and grabbed a knife and told his teenage son: "You won't be seeing me for some time."

As the terrified teenager tried to stop his father, Metcalfe went back upstairs clutching the knife, followed by his son who was shouting warnings to his grandfather.

Metcalfe stabbed his father in the chest, stomach and back, leaving him in a pool of blood, while his son alerted a neighbour who called the police.

Metcalfe, whose bail address was given as Egerton Road, Chorlton, appered for sentence at Bolton Crown Court.

He had originally faced an attempted murder charge, but after discussion between prosecution and defence barristers, the charge was reduced to grievous bodily harm with intent.

Judge William Morris said the case was a tragic one for all the family members, especially Metcalfe senior, who suffered severe injuries, for Metcalfe himself and for his two teenage sons. He said that Mr Metcalfe had written to him asking him not to jail his son. He said in the letter that he had forgiven his son but could no longer trust him.

Judge Morris told Metcalfe: "This was a sustained and savage attack and it's only by good fortune that your father didn't die. This was an attack witnessed by one of your sons and that must have been very shocking for him."

The court heard that Metcalfe senior was rushed to hospital where he was treated for eight stab wounds. He suffered a punctured lung and lacerations to his liver and intestines. But he recovered well and was discharged after eight weeks.

Prosecutor Ciaran Rankin said Metcalfe, his two sons and partner, moved from Berkshire to live with his 74-year-old father in Horwich.

They had a close but stormy relationship and on September 17 last year, Metcalfe and his partner and his father went out drinking.

But after returning home they had a row and Metcalfe and his partner left the house and went drinking in a local pub.

When they returned home they took bottles of whisky and vodka back with them and another row ensued.

Metcalfe and his partner went to bed but Metcalfe senior rushed into their bedroom and pulled the sheets off them. Metcalfe got the knife from the kitchen, pushed aside his 16-year-old son and stabbed his father.

When police arrived Metcalfe, who had no previous convictions, told the officers: "It's my dad. I've stabbed him."

He told them he could remember very little about the incident because of the amount he had drunk.