A GUEST attending a New Year party in Stourport was knifed to death by his partner in a window-cleaning business after a row over work, a court heard.

Jason Gomez stabbed 38-year-old Robert Jones in the chest with a six-inch kitchen blade, said prosecutor Yvonne Cohen QC.

Mr Jones, a former Kidderminster Football League referee who was nicknamed "Boxer", died in hospital a short time later from massive bleeding.

Gomez, 31, of Broomy Close, Stourport, was sentenced to life imprisonment after pleading guilty to murder at Worcester Crown Court.

Relations between the defendant and victim had soured last Christmas because Gomez, a banned driver, wanted to do extra work but Mr Jones refused to drive him round.

On New Year's Day, Mr Jones had gone to the Broomy Close home of friend Paul Stanley. Other people had arrived and there was heavy drinking from lunchtime.

There had appeared to be no friction but Mr Jones was sitting in an armchair, apparently asleep, when Gomez went over to him, produced a knife and stabbed him, said Miss Cohen.

Mr Jones, a divorced father-of-two, stood up, went over to Gomez and struck him once, causing him to fall over.

As people were trying to staunch the victim's blood, Gomez went to his home further up the street and confessed to a friend: "I've killed him. I'll get 15 years."

An ambulance took Mr Jones to hospital, where he died at 2am from massive bleeding on January 2.

The knife had penetrated six inches and into a lung. There was a second wound two-and-a-half inches deep into his left upper arm.

The murder weapon was found in the kitchen. Gomez claimed that Mr Jones had been winding him up all evening and had been threatening to fight him.

Gomez said he had drunk three bottles of wine and some vodka. He had an alcohol problem but drink usually made him fall over - not aggressive. Mr Jones had been drinking cider and was also drunk, said Miss Cohen.

The defendant said the stabbing took place in a split second and he had not intended to kill.

He had previous convictions for assault, threatening behaviour and having a bladed weapon in a public place.

Psychiatrists had established Gomez was not suffering from mental illness, said Miss Rachel Brand QC, defending.

He had taken alcohol to the party and the only thing on his mind was to celebrate the New Year.

Despite "a grumbling disagreement", Gomez had no intention to cause any trouble. But after consuming a great deal of alcohol he lost his temper and inflicted the fatal stab wound on impulse.

Afterwards, he was seen in the street crying and asking others to look after his girlfriend. His guilty plea reflected his remorse.

Judge Michael Mott told Gomez: "You ended this man's life with one drunken, violent action." But he had shown courage by his guilty plea and had made no excuses.

The judge said the murder admission might comfort the victim's relatives and friends. This would be reflected in his recommendation to the Home Secretary on the minimum term of imprisonment Gomez must serve.

Inspector Adrian Todd of Kidderminster Police added: "This is clearly a satisfactory conclusion to the police investigation.

"However, we also remember the family of Robert "Boxer" Jones. This has been a very traumatic time for them and our thoughts are with them as they now start to rebuild their lives."