A SCHIZOPHRENIC Gwent man was jailed for life yesterday for stabbing a man in the chest over a £10 debt.

Cardiff crown court heard that Christopher Garrett, 25, of Woodbine Road, Blackwood, attacked Robert Heally with a serrated kitchen knife during the row.

Mr Heally was lucky that the knife did not hit any major organs, the court heard.

Judge Stephen Hopkins told Garrett: "It's plain to me that you are currently a dangerous man."

The court heard that a medical report showed that Garrett is suffering from schizophrenia.

The judge said that in view of a previous conviction for rape, classified as a serious offence, the only sentence he could pass was one of life imprisonment.

Garrett admitted a charge of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

Prosecutor Roger Griffiths said that on December 30, Garrett approached Mr Heally and put his arm around his neck. He wrestled with Garrett and pushed him to the ground.

Later Mr Heally went to a house in Blackwood and discovered Garrett was there.

Mr Griffiths said Garrett "reached towards the back of his trousers and took out a knife. He then stabbed Mr Heally in the left side of his chest. There was a ripping noise as the knife went in."

Mr Griffiths said Garrett fled from the scene, throwing the knife away. He was later arrested at his home crying, and so drunk he could hardly stand. Mr Heally was detained at the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, for four days. The wound was potentially dangerous because it was near major organs and had allowed air into the chest cavity.

The prosecution said that Garrett stabbed him during a row over £10 debt owed by Mr Heally.

Garrett was also said to have previous convictions for possessing drugs, robbery, theft, causing criminal damage and affray.

His counsel Jeremy Jenkins said: "He has laboured under a considerable mental illness. The attack was not sustained and Garrett was extremely drunk."

After the hearing, Detective Constable Ian Bartholomew said: "He was arrested the same day as the offence, but the real breakthrough was when a member of the public came forward the next day and informed the police that a knife had been found on her patio. The tip was stained with the victim's blood and Garrett's DNA was on the handle."