A man who left someone with permanent scarring to his cheek after slashing him during a drunken family feud has today been jailed for more than eight years.

Craig Stone stabbed Simon Stannet – effectively his brother-in-law – in the face after a row broke out when the defendant “became flirtatious” with his victim’s partner, Aylesbury Crown Court heard.

He committed the offence at Mr Stannet’s home in The Crescent, Princes Risborough, in the early hours of December 15. The court heard he then phoned his mother to ask her to drive him to the hospital after complaining of a hand injury, and during the journey there he jumped out and ran off.

Stone, 27, handed himself in to police eight days later and was later charged with wounding with intent, an offence he pleaded guilty to.

The court was told Stone and his partner Michelle Strong, along with Mr Stannet and his partner – Michelle’s sister, Samantha – attended a birthday party for the women’s mother in Aylesbury on December 14, with an argument breaking out during the taxi journey into town.

The birthday meal passed off without incident but a second row broke out during the journey home, and Stone - who, the court heard, had been drinking brandy and Stella Artois before going into Aylesbury - was ejected from the taxi by the driver as a result of his behaviour.

Stone later attended Mr Stannet’s home after the argument between him and Samantha continued, and despite pleas not to get involved in the row he punched his victim in the head twice, pushing him against a wall.

The argument then died down and the three continued to drink – but trouble escalated again.

Ian Hope, prosecuting, told the court: “All was well until the defendant became flirtatious with Samantha Strong. He put his hand on her thigh and slapped her bottom.

“Samantha Strong and Mr Stannet went upstairs to bed, in the hope and expectation the defendant would simply leave.”

Instead Stone went to the kitchen and pulled out a carving knife and went upstairs to the bedroom, where he punched Mr Stannet in the face again and sliced him in the cheek with the weapon – leaving him scarred from just below the eye to his ear.

The court heard Stone, of Woodfield Road, Princes Risborough, has a previous conviction for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, where he caused his victim to lose two teeth after headbutting him.

Judge Francis Sheridan, who jailed Stone for eight years and three months, remarked as he passed sentence: “What a wicked thing you have done. What a way to make yourself unwelcome with any family. It’s hard to imagine a worse form of violent crime.

“You were thrown out of the taxi by the driver for your revolting behaviour. You were aggressive, rude and violent.

“You go to the kitchen, you get a carving knife, go up to the bedroom, you burst in and struck five blows – one of which is the most dreadful life changing, life scarring, slice. [It was] Virtually through the whole of the cheek.

“There is a significant degree of pre meditation, use of a weapon, and you deliberately caused more damage than necessary.”

Judge Sheridan also ordered for Stone to take anger management counselling when he is released on licence from prison.