A 25-year-old man who slashed another young man across the throat with a craft knife was put behind bars for seven years today.

And a judge also imposed an extended three-year licence on Alan Bevington after ruling that he poses a significant risk of serious harm to members of the public.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that Bevington, of New Hey Road, Woodchurch, has a dissocial personality disorder and problems controlling his temper.

He has committed 96 previous offences, including nine for violence, and has a dislike of authority figures as well as long standing cocaine and alcohol problems.

Jailing Bevington, who pleaded guilty to wounding with intent, Judge Mark Brown said that the offence, which has left the victim with a scar across his throat, involved a very vulnerable part of the body and it was “extremely fortunate the injury was not far worse.”

Paul Treble, prosecuting, said that the incident happened in the early hours of March 4 last year when Bevington and a friend were at a young woman’s home in Colin Road, BIrkenhead.

Bevington went upstairs with a woman and while there three other men arrived, including the 26-year-old victim.

Bevington overheard provocative remarks and he went downstairs with the craft knife.

Bevington slashed the vicitm across the throat with the weapon cutting both jugular veins and his Adam’s Apple and leaving a 15-centimetre wound.

The victim did not initially feel any pain but when he put his hands to his throat could feel the damage, said Mr Treble.

He was rushed to hospital and underwent surgery to clean and repair the wound and had 11 staples inserted but was able to leave hospital the next day.

In a victim impact statement he told police that it had changed his life and he had been left feeling scared and vulnerable.

Bevington was arrested nearby and was found to have a cut to his hand from the knife.

Paul Wood, defending, said Bevington, who is on anti-psychotic medication, accepted his culpability was high.

He is ill and had been hearing voices on the night of the incident. His own mother spoke of his behaviour problems when he was younger.