A CONVICTED robber who escaped prison has now been jailed for five years after slashing a close friend across the face with a Stanley knife.

Richard Simpson left Luke Cheshire scarred for life having needed 25 stitches to the wound between his left ear and mouth.

The 24-year-old had been given a suspended prison sentence for robbery and was ordered by a judge at Wolverhampton Crown Court to serve the jail term that had been imposed for the offence.

But judge Michael Challinor ruled that although his victim had been left with an “unsightly and ugly scar” he would not punish him further as it was accepted there had been an element of provocation and that he was full of remorse.

The court was told Simpson, of Wallace Road, had been looking for a fight and was over excited and aggressive about a girl they both knew.

He took off his coat as Mr Cheshire told him: “Com on, let’s sort this out.”

Bernard Linnemann, prosecuting, said Simpson then ran at his friend, knocking him backwards over a hedge before pulling the knife from his pocket and slashing him between his left ear and mouth.

He said the cut needed seven deep stitches and a further 18 external stitches and Mr Cheshire could now be facing plastic surgery for what was a "difficult" scar.

Simpson admitted wounding Mr Cheshire with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm and of being in breach of the suspended prison sentence.

Blondelle Thompson, defending, said Simpson used the Stanley knife in the course of his work and he had mistakenly left it in his pocket.

"He has known Mr Cheshire for over 12 years and he realises that friendship is now over," she added.