A carpet fitter, who stabbed his half-brother with a kitchen knife at a Norfolk village, causing him to lose his left leg, was sentenced to six years in prison last week.

A carpet fitter, who stabbed his half-brother with a kitchen knife at a Norfolk village, causing him to lose his left leg, was sentenced to six years in prison last week.

William Lee Orris, 24, attacked Gary Sliney in a fit of rage with a 19cm blade at their mother's home in Pulham St Mary, near Diss, following a dispute with his half-brother.

Norwich Crown Court heard on Friday that the 20-year-old victim, who was left critically ill as a result of the knife attack, had allegedly had an affair with the defendant's girlfriend.

Orris, of Chestnut Road, Pulham St Mary, admitted wounding his half-brother with intent to cause grievous bodily harm on May 30 last year after he found himself locked out of the family home.

Malcolm Robins, prosecuting, said the defendant had been living with his girlfriend in Essex when Mr Sliney moved in with the couple. The court heard that Orris had moved back to Norfolk to start a new life for himself after claims that his girlfriend and half-brother had slept together.

Mr Robins said that when Orris returned from work on May 30, he found himself locked out and discovered that Mr Sliney was staying at their mother's address.

'He broke the lounge window and picked up a kitchen knife as he went in. He then stabbed his half-brother five times, twice through the leg, severing an artery. His brother almost died and his leg was amputated last June,' he said.

The court heard that Orris, who had been drinking, claimed that he had been taunted by Mr Sliney.

John Farmer, in mitigation, said: 'It was the last straw when he thought he was going to lose his home again and he lost the plot. He didn't intend to harm his half-brother, but just to frighten him.'

Jailing him for six years, Judge Simon Barham said Orris' behaviour was 'inexcusable' and the offence was 'extremely grave.'