A YOUNG man was jailed for seven years this week after admitting stabbing another in a late-night brawl in Harrow town centre.

Daniel Lewis, 20, of Welldon Crescent, Harrow, pleaded guilty to GBH against Nicholas McEvoy, also 20, following the incident in the early hours of April 16 this year. The two, who had been out drinking with the same group of friends, clashed outside O'Neill's pub in Station Road. Harrow Crown Court heard that Lewis shouted at Mr McEvoy that he would "end his fucking life" before plunging a knife repeatedly into his stomach. A second man, 19-year old Adam Cosgrove, was stabbed in the wrist while trying to intervene.

Sentencing had been adjourned two weeks ago while a medical report was obtained, and on Friday Stephen Chadwick, Consultant General Surgeon at Northwick Park Hospital, gave a full account of Mr McEvoy's injuries.

He said that the victim had sustained five stab wounds in the attack, two in the chest, two in the abdomen and one in the hand. He suffered a punctured left lung and wounds to the gall bladder, colon, and small intestine, injuries which kept him on a life-support machine for five weeks. While in intensive care he had a haemmorage and almost died. He is now out of hospital, although a plastic tube has been implanted in his intestines which will need to be regularly checked throughout his life.

Matthew Kennedy, prosecuting, said that Lewis had a previous conviction for ABH in 2002 when he hit someone over the head with a bottle in an argument outside a pub. On that occasion he had received a community service order.

Heather Hope, defending, said that Lewis had been carrying a knife because he himself had been a recent victim of a violent robbery, and feared for his safety after receiving threatening phone calls. She added that Lewis deeply regretted the incident and had pleaded guilty to spare Mr McEvoy having to testify.

Justice Dawn Freedman, sentencing Lewis to seven years in prison, said: "I accept that when you went out that night there was no premeditation, no thought that you would end up injuring your friend in such a terrible way. But it cannot be overlooked that you are a young man who, when the worse for drink, becomes a grave danger to anyone who crosses you. Were it not for the skill of the hospital staff, Mr McEvoy would have died and you would now be facing life imprisonment."