A KNIFEMAN is to be assessed to see if he is a danger to the public.

Roger Bruce, 29, stabbed a neighbour in the chest with such force the knife blade penetrated to a depth of 4ins.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard in June Bruce became involved in an altercation with a disabled man in Colchester’s Stanley Wooster Way.

The wife of stab victim Shaun Boyles saw what was happening and said her husband should intervene.

Mr Boyles, 49, did so and after confronting Bruce thought he had been punched in the chest.

However, when he looked down he realised he had been stabbed. Surgeons took three hours to remove the blade.

Police found the handle later on when they searched Bruce’s flat.

He claimed he was acting in self defence after Mr Boyles pushed him but a Chelmsford Crown Court jury did not believe him.

The 29-year-old denied charges of wounding with intent, posessing a weapon and assault by beating.

He was convicted on the weapons charge, cleared on the assault and wounding with intent charges but convicted on a lesser charge of unlawful wounding.

Recorder Giles Eyre told Bruce he wanted him assessed to see if he is a danger to the public.

Bruce will return to court for sentence next month once psychiatric and pre-sentence reports are prepared.

He was remanded in custody until then. There was no application for bail.