A man who left his friend of 20 years fighting for his life after stabbing him in his back during a row over a lift from a concert has been jailed.

Philip Kirk, 36, left Nicholas Murphy critically ill after plunging a kitchen knife with a nine-inch blade in to his back, puncturing his lung.

Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday the two had got in to a fight after Mr Murphy was left behind when the two went with friends to a concert at Leeds University.

The fight, which took place at a friend's house in Lidget Green on October 20 last year, resulted in Kirk kicking Mr Murphy in the face and Mr Murphy biting Kirk's right ear.

But the fight turned into a near tragedy when Kirk grabbed a knife from the kitchen and stabbed Murphy, leaving him with a 3cm wide wound.

One witness said Kirk lifted up his victim's T-shirt before plunging the knife in.

Kirk then threw the knife in to the sink and went home.

Mr Murphy was treated in the intensive care unit in Bradford Royal Infirmary and spent at least nine days in the hospital.

Prosecutor Simon Myers said Mr Murphy had not been able to return to work for months, resulting in him losing his home.

Mr Murphy now suffers breathing difficulties and experiences flashbacks of the incident around seven times a day.

Kirk, of Brackenholme Royd, Buttershaw, admitted the offence of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm on May 22 this year.

Defending Alan Bridger said his client had always been "unclear" about the events surrounding the incident.

Mr Bridger said: "The complainant and defendant have an unhappy history involving a number of fights, at least five in recent years, with the defendant always getting the worst part of it.

"It has been a mysterious friendship which has persisted over 20 years. In recent years Mr Murphy has been involved with serious drugs which has affected him for the worst.

"There have been a number of incidents when he has attacked the defendant without provocation."

The court was also told Kirk had a problem with alcohol abuse and had experienced a difficult upbringing.

Before jailing Kirk for three years, Judge Peter Benson described his and Mr Murphy's relationship as "turbulent" and added: "You are not an aggressive person, but on this occasion something snapped. You attacked from behind in what was a violent fashion which could well have led to the loss of this man's life."

e-mail: mel.fairhurst @telegraphandargus.co.uk