A MAN has been jailed for two years for his involvement in an attack in Oxford which left the victim with a severed artery.

Ian Milligan, formerly of Littlemore, admitted unlawful wounding in relation to the stabbing at the Bowlplex, in Greater Leys, on October 17 last year.

Oxford Crown Court heard today that both Milligan and James Bisson went to comfort Tina Russell after she received news her brother had died, starting an argument which led to Mr Bisson punching Milligan.

The fight broke up and then started again involving several other men, before Milligan returned with a friend.

One of the pair was wielding a skewer or screwdriver, which was used to stab Mr Bisson in the throat and armpit, and severed his artery.

Milligan denied wielding the weapon, but defence barrister John Reilly said he was with the assailant and accepted equal responsibility.

Sentencing Milligan, Judge Patrick Eccles said: “This started with a revenge attack because you had been assaulted by Bisson.

“Whoever used the weapon, there was a weapon. It was a sharp, piercing implement and there were three separate stab wounds.

“It was an attack that was deliberate and you accept that whoever wielded it, both of you must accept the same degree of criminal and moral culpability for doing that.”

He told Milligan he would serve one year, minus 61 days credit for time spent wearing an electronic tag while awaiting trial and sentencing.