A “CHEATING” partner stabbed another man - who “called out” his behaviour - in the abdomen with a large kitchen knife leaving him needing life saving surgery.

A judge told Colin Agnew: “On 15 January 2022 you changed the life of David Tonks. You could very well have ended it with your conduct.”

61-year-old Agnew had been convicted of wounding Mr Tonks with intent after a trial during which he had claimed he acted in self-defence when the victim and a companion called at his Wirral home at night.

Liverpool Crown Court heard how earlier that day Mr Tonks, a probationary member of a motorcycle gang ‘The Outlaws” and his partner Gillian Lloyd, were chatting in their car in New Brighton.

She mentioned she had been messaged by a man called Colin, after on line conversations, despite her saying she just wanted to be friends.

Despite her telling him she had a boyfriend, Agnew replied that he was a “one woman man” but if he got a girlfriend they could be funny about him being friends with other woman.

After saying “honesty is king” he crudely told her he wanted to have sex with her.

Mr Tonks was unhappy about the flirtatious messages and they tried ringing Agnew but he did not answer, though messaged that her contact attempts had almost got him in trouble with his girlfriend.

Mr Tonks messaged him saying “they needed to talk, f….tard. I will see you soon and it won’t be pleasant.” Agnew sarcastically replied saying, “sorry for being a single man”.

The victim explained to the court that he meant that it would not be pleasant in terms of destroying Agnew’s relationship rather than threatening any violence.

Jailing Agnew for six years today (Thursday, May 30), Judge Charlotte Crangle said that in evidence Mr Tonks told how “be believed such conduct should always be called out.”

Mr Tonks found out where Agnew lived and went round with a friend while Miss Lloyd waited in the car.

“After knocking on the door he said something to the effect of ‘why are you sending filthy messages to my girlfriend?’.

“The defendant said: ‘You came to my f…ing house?’” said Kyra Badman, prosecuting.

Judge Crangle said that Mr Tonks told the jury “he only wanted to confront him and expose you as cheating on his girlfriend.”

She said that Agnew, who told the author of a probation report that he had drunk eight cans of beer though was not particularly drunk, had grabbed the largest kitchen knife out of the block on hearing a knock at the door but could not explain why.

He rushed at Mr Tonks who put his hands on his shoulders to push him away  “at which point you plunged it into his stomach.”

She said the victim backed away and Agnew tried to stab him again but Mr Tonks managed to wrestle the knife away and made it clear he had been stabbed.

Agnew’s son came down and there was a scuffle with Mr Tonk’s friend but it then stopped abruptly when it became clear what had happened and Miss Lloyd drove her partner straight to Arrowe Park Hospital A & E.

On the way he kept drifting in and out of consciousness and had passed out by the time he arrived and was rushed straight into emergency surgery.

His small bowel had been lacerated and he had to have some of it removed and was kept in intensive care. He was in hospital for ten days, at times in excruciating pain, and has been left with a 40 - 45 cm scar and digestive issues.

In victim impact statements he told how his diet is now restricted and he cannot eat red meat and will be at life long risk of hernias. He also has on-going psychological issues including depression, anxiety and PTSD.

Judge Crangle told Agnew that she accepted there was another side to him. He had expressed genuine remorse and regret and has mental health issues. At times he suffers from paranoia because of alcohol and substance misuse.

Agnew, of Wakefield Drive, Leasowe, will have to serve at least four years of the jail term and the judge imposed indefinite restraining orders to keep away from Mr Tonks and Ms Lloyd.

Andrew McInnes, defending, said that Agnew, who has two previous convictions but none for violence, wanted to “sincerely apologise” to his victim and his partner and friends “for the hurt and anguish” he had caused them.

“He did not want these events to unfold as they did. He must have feared some confrontation and acted in excessive self-defence.

“He should have acted differently but he had not been looking for trouble. It literally came to his door.”

Mr McInnes said that Agnew had worked for many years and is being supported by family and friends.