A DRUNKEN man has been jailed for five and-a-half years for stabbing his half-brother after losing his temper, Taunton Crown Court heard.

Michael Martin Prole plunged an 8in kitchen knife into Robert Prole’s neck and had to be pushed away by his 85-year-old mother during the fracas in the house where they all lived.

Robert and Mrs Prole then pulled the knife out of his neck and called the police while Prole waited calmly outside the room to be arrested.

Prole, 63, of Brendon Road, Watchet, was jailed for five-and-a-half years after admitting wounding with intent – a charge of attempted murder was dropped by the CPS.

William Hunter, prosecuting, said Prole, who had drunk a bottle of vodka a day for at least 12 days, had approached Robert in the kitchen on November 9 and said he was going to kill him.

Later the same day, when Robert and his mother were watching television in the lounge, Prole burst in and stabbed his half-brother, leaving a wound 2in wide and 2in deep.

Robert, who Prole had accused of not pulling his weight in the house and of taking his bank card, was treated in hospital but has since recovered.

Lawrence Wilcox, defending, said the brothers had lived together most of their lives “in highly pressurised circumstances” and Prole felt Robert’s behaviour had become intolerable.

“He simply snapped,” added Mr Wilcox, who said his client, who was highly thought of at work and in the community, has since expressed remorse and had only ever been in trouble once before, when he received a caution following a previous attack on his brother.

Jailing Prole, Mr Recorder Malcolm Galloway said he had shown no remorse, adding: “It was pure luck the injury to your brother was as it was”.

He told Prole, who was also ordered to pay a £120 victim surcharge, the attack was “fuelled by alcohol and your temper”.