A son has been jailed for trying to stab his father after he was called fat and stupid.

A court heard how William Duncan, 24, had a kitchen knife in his hand when he went into his father's bedroom one night last November.

In the struggle that followed, his father, Charles, managed to get the knife from him and was not injured, said Richard Wood, prosecuting.

He told Chelmsford Crown Court there was a history of problems between father and son and matters came to a head on November 15.

Mr Wood said Duncan returned to the family home in Bladon Close, Tiptree, at about 11.40pm and at one point picked up a kitchen knife.

"His father was in his bedroom and he heard his son say You're always calling me fat and stupid and now you're going to pay for it', " he said.

Duncan admitted a charge of attempted grievous bodily harm when he appeared in court and was jailed for 16 months.

Emma Nash, mitigating, said Duncan and his father did not get on.

"These two men wind each other up," said Miss Nash.

Duncan would not be returning to live at the family home once released from prison, she added.

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