A MAN who stabbed his father in a drunken attack has walked free from court.

Swindon Crown Court heard that Edward Wyles, 23, had argued with his father, 40-year-old Paul Strachan, about living in his flat when he was away.

Mr Strachan was about to go to sleep on the sofa in his Trowbridge flat on August 30 last year when his son, who was to sleep in the bedroom, came at him with a kitchen knife, stabbing him in the upper arm.

Wyles, of Kivel Court, Salisbury, admitted unlawful wounding but after Judge Douglas Field heard that Mr Strachan did not want his son prosecuted, he imposed a suspended sentence.

Tessa Hingston, prosecuting, told the court the pair had been drinking heavily and had argued because the victim did not want to leave his son living alone in his flat while he was away.

Mark Ashley, defending, said his client had been unaware Mr Strachan was his biological father until he was 18 and that their relationship had been a difficult one.

He said the case might never have come to court had Wyles not admitted his crime, as Mr Strachan had made a retraction statement.

He said Wyles worked as a cleaner and also did voluntary work with Conservation Volunteers.

Judge Field imposed a 12-month jail term suspended for two years, ordered Wyles to do 300 hours of unpaid work, be under supervision for 18 months and pay £500 compensation.