A father was stabbed in the chest with a flick knife by a friend after they fell out during an evening of drinking, a court heard.

Charles Joy was taken by air ambulance to a London hospital and was detained for six days, but did not need surgery.

Maidstone Crown Court heard he had been out in Sheerness with his alleged attacker, Gary Booth, and others on August 17 last year.

After visiting bars, Mr Joy – known as Chub – went to a caravan at Sheerness Holiday Park.

Prosecutor Martin Yale said Booth, 30, who had seemed drunk and miserable, turned up there later with a friend.

While in the caravan Mr Joy discovered Booth, who he had known since school days, had a knife, it was alleged.

“They went outside and Mr Joy took the knife from him and threw it away,” Mr Yale told the jury.

“They went back inside. A short while later they left the caravan.

“As they walked to Halfway Road, Mr Joy recalled Mr Booth saying he was going to stab him.

“He asked what he was going to stab him with and he produced the knife.

“He thought it was the same knife he took away from him earlier. Mr Booth tried to stab him. He tried to punch Mr Joy but missed.

“Mr Joy headbutted him and knocked him to the ground.

"He remained on the ground for a few moments. He took the knife and stabbed him to the right upper chest.

“Whatever had gone on before, Mr Booth did not stab him in self-defence.

“In the circumstances, stabbing someone in the chest was far beyond what would have been reasonable self-defence.

“Mr Booth also kicked Mr Joy while he was on the ground. There was blood on the pavement, on the kerb and in the middle of the road.”

Mr Joy was drifting in and out of consciousness.

An air ambulance crew flew him to London where he was treated for lung damage.

Mr Yale said two knives were found. The flick knife was in a flowerpot and the other blade was under a caravan.

Booth, of Main Road, Queenborough, denies wounding with intent, an alternative charge of unlawful wounding, and having an offensive weapon.

The trial continues.