Man jailed for deadly knife attack after 'just flipping'

The householder, who lived alone, had already suffered the same attack previously, and had paint thrown on his door, Manchester Crown Court heard.

Residents were too frightened to go out at night because of a gang of teenagers terrorising the sprawling Smallbridge council estate in Rochdale, it was said.

Williams, described by neighbours as "pleasant, friendly and keeps himself to himself", heard a bang on the front door of his ground-floor flat, as if someone was kicking at it to break in.

He went to investigate, to see urine pouring through his letterbox, he told police.

Angry, he went to his kitchen, grabbed a knife with a seven-inch blade and as Mr Kershaw urinated, swung open the door and in a "momentary intention" stabbed his victim in the stomach.

He then closed the door and dialled 999 as friends of Mr Kershaw tried to attack Williams, smashing his windows and threatening to "burn him alive" by torching the property. Mr Kershaw died the next day.