A KNIFEMAN who repeatedly stabbed a neighbour in an early-hours doorstep confrontation has been told he deserves every day of his sentence by top judges.

Stephen Renwick, 40, called at the home of his neighbour on September 27, 2004, produced a knife, lunged at his victim and stabbed him seven times.

Renwick, of Dorset Crescent, Moorside, Consett, County Durham, was jailed for five years at Newcastle Crown Court last April after he was convicted of wounding with intent.

Yesterday, London's Criminal Appeal Court threw out Renwick's plea for more time to challenge the sentence he was handed.

One of the stab wounds punctured the victim's lung, but he managed to stagger to a friend's house and call an ambulance.

Renwick was arrested and said he had been drinking before the attack. Mr Justice Walker also said Renwick suffered from "impaired anger control" after he had himself been the victim of a serious attack in 1997.

Renwick asked for more time to appeal against the length of his sentence but the Appeal Court judges dismissed his application, ruling he had no arguable case.

Mr Justice Walker said: "Renwick intended to cause really serious harm. It is not arguable that five years is manifestly excessive."