Man's 'euphoria' at stabbing victim with steak knife

A bricklayer who plunged a knife into a man told his sister he felt "euphoria" and had "taken a man's life", a court has heard. Regan Ferris stabbed his victim after arming himself with a steak knife during an argument at a friend's house.

Swansea Crown Court heard the man Ferris stabbed sustained a 10cm-long stab wound to the shoulder and upper chest area and suffered a collapsed lung in the attack. Robin Rouch, prosecuting, said on the afternoon of January 21 this year Ferris was at a friend's house in Morrison in company with a number of other people.

The court heard an argument developed among those present about showing the homeowner "respect" during which Ferris became aggressive and grabbed a steak knife from the kitchen sink drainer. He was told to stop being an "idiot" and threw the weapon to the floor, and that seemed to be an end to the matter.

However a little later Ferris began "raging", making threats, and shouting about "getting the boys down here" to sort people out. As a result of his behaviour one of the guests tried to usher the defendant outside and at that point Ferris produced a knife from his back pocket and stabbed it towards the man's chest. The man moved out of the way as best he could but the blade went into his upper chest and shoulder area. The stabbing was followed by 25-year-old Ferris shouting: "I will have you all" before he stabbed himself in the neck. Ferris the left the house but returned a short time later asking for the vodka he had left behind. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter here.

The court heard the man the defendant stabbed collapsed to the floor bleeding heavily and the emergency services were called. He was rushed to Morriston Hospital where medics found a 10cm-long stab wound and a collapsed lung. The man needed a chest drain fitting and he spent a total of five days in hospital before being discharged. The court heard the victim, who is homeless, has declined to provide an impact statement and there were no medical updates available.

Meanwhile Ferris had gone to his sister's house where he told he told her he had stabbed someone adding: "I don't even feel bad. It is euphoria. I have taken a man's life." The court heard following this disclosure the police were alerted and officers attended the property where the use of a Taser was required to gain compliance. In his subsequent interview Ferris said he had been acting in self-defence.

Regan Ferris, of Woodside Crescent, Clydach, Swansea Valley, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of a knife. He has no previous convictions. Hannah George, for Ferris, said the defendant was a skilled labourer and, when not in drink, was a productive member of society and a caring individual. She said Ferris had turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism to deal with trauma and grief, and said attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism may have influenced the way he processed his emotions. The barrister added that the defendant's remorse was expressed in the pre-sentence report, in a psychiatric report, and in a letter Ferris had written to the court.

Recorder Victoria Hillier said Ferris had been "raging and shouting aggressively" in the Morrison house before producing a knife from his back pocket stabbing the complainant to the shoulder with a "quick punch" motion. She said the defendant's actions could have resulted in the death of the man, which she said he seemed to have recognised for himself in the comments he made to his sister. The recorder said she accepted the former bricklayer was genuinely remorseful for his actions and noted that in his pre-sentence report he said he had consumed alcohol, cocaine, and street Valium on the day in question. With a one-third discount for his guilty pleas Ferris was sentenced to 40 months in prison. He will serve up to half that period in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.

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