A MAN, who embedded a knife in a Big Issue salesman's chest, had his four-year prison sentence halved by top judges yesterday.

The Appeal Court judges showed mercy to Mark Kershaw, 25, of Links Way, Swinton, after hearing he had lashed out with the knife in a bid to protect the victim's girlfriend from attack.

He was jailed at Manchester Crown Court in August last year, after he admitted to unlawfully wounding David Lilliat -- but only on the basis that he used "excessive force".

Kershaw, who had been homeless for some time, Mr Lilliat, and his girlfriend, were all at Mr Lilliat's council flat when violence broke out on February 16 last year.

Kershaw pleaded guilty on the basis that he had acted in her defence.

Mr Justice Mackay told the Appeal Court: "It is accepted that he struck a blow in the defence of another, and was guilty only by virtue of the fact that he used excessive force in all the circumstances.

"This, it seems to us, was additional and much more significant mitigation which the judge failed to reflect in his sentence."