A FORMER Carlisle soldier who was left traumatised by his military service has been jailed for stabbing his brother.

Victim Matthew Ryan suffered a 'minor' puncture wound to one of his lungs, an injury which a medical expert said could have been 'catastrophic and life-threatening,' Carlisle Crown Court heard.

Andrew Ryan, 41, of Millholme Avenue, Currock, admitted an offence of wounding.

Prosecutor David Clarke told the court how the attack came to light on the evening of December 13 last year after a Millholme Avenue resident heard noises outside and looked out of a window, seeing Matthew Ryan, who was shouting that he had been stabbed and needed help.

The victim later described how he had been encouraging his brother - who had been drinking - to go to a reunion with former colleagues but an argument broke out between them.

It was during this, the court heard, that Andrew Ryan picked up a black-handled kitchen knife and attacked his brother.

Matthew Ryan suffered a cut to his hand as he tried to defend himself, as well as knife wounds to his chest and back.

After he had been injured, as he brother walked away, Mr Ryan challenged the defendant but Andrew Ryan just swore at him.

Matthew Ryan suffered a 2cm wound to his chest, the blade having penetrated his chest cavity and slightly punctured his lung.

"There was a further statement from a forensic medical examiner," said Mr Clarke.

The expert said the blow which penetrated the victim's chest cavity would have required "significant force, equivalent to a hard punch."

"If it had gone any deeper," continued the examiner, "there was a risk of a catastrophic, life-threatening haemorrhage, or a punctured lung."

Brendan Burke, for Ryan, stressed that the victim had suffered a "minor puncture wound."

The barrister said the defendant had suffered trauma during his military service, though this had not been something he had wanted to disclose. The defendant now candidly admitted he suffered from alcohol dependency.

Noting the diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder, Judge Nicholas Barker told the defendant: "It's perhaps simply worth noting that the medical evidence demonstrates that only a small amount of additional force or a small alteration in the wound, would have led to a catastrophic injury, potentially life-threatening; and your actions."

His actions - including leaving your brother without help at that point - could easily have led to his death, said the judge.

Judge Barker jailed Andrew Ryan for 26 months.

The court heard also that Andrew Ryan had a history of violence, with some 39 offences on his criminal record, dating back to 2005 when he was given a lengthy jail term for serious violence.