A drug dealer from Bow who stabbed a man in the arm causing a cut which needed 11 stitches has been jailed for eight years.

Patrick Butler, 25, was visiting a flat in Bittern Close, Ipswich in the early hours of May 5 and was described by witnesses as being drunk and “popping pills and showing off,” Ipswich Crown Court heard.

He had then produced a flick knife which he used to slash Mumba Katalagi’s face causing a minor injury to his cheek, said Andrew Jackson, prosecuting.

Butler and another man had run out of the flat chased by Mr Katalagi who had been staying at the flat.

At the bottom of some stairs Butler tried to stab Mr Katalagi in the chest but ended up stabbing his arm when he tried to defend himself.

He was taken to hospital and had 11 stitches in a gaping wound in his upper left arm.

Butler, of Bow Road, admitted unlawful wounding, possessing criminal property, possessing cannabis and possessing heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply.

Jailing him today (Friday) for a total of eight years, Judge Rupert Overbury said Butler was prepared to use violence and arm himself with a weapon.

The court heard that on January 16 police officers saw Butler in Christchurch Park, Ipswich, with known drug users and suspected he was dealing drugs to them.

When he was arrested he was found in possession of £1,326 cash and a telephone which was constantly ringing and contained text messages consistent with drug dealing.

On February 14 police officers forced their way into a flat in Bond Street, Ipswich and found Butler asleep on a sofa.

The officers found £545 cash, which was related to drug dealing, under a cushion.

Two months later on April 12 police officers executed a search warrant at a property in Bramford Lane, Ipswich and as they forced their way in Butler escaped out of a window.

Inside the premises officers found 210 wraps of heroin and 32 wraps of crack cocaine with a street value of £2,500.

Stephen Spence for Butler said his client was a drug user who dealt drugs to fund his own habit.