A young man who stabbed his uncle leaving him with life changing injuries went on the run from Great Yarmouth for more than a year before being arrested on a European arrest warrant, a court heard.

Edvinas Balaboskinas, 20, was eventually arrested back in his native Lithuania early this year and brought back to the UK to face charges and appear before Norwich Crown Court.

Balaboskinas admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent on April 22, 2016, and also failing to surrender to custody on September 16, 2016, and was given six-and-a-half years in a young offenders institution.

Chris Youell, prosecuting, said Balaboskinas, who was 18 at the time of the offence, had been celebrating with his uncle over the fact he had just got a job and they both had been drinking when they became involved in an argument and he stabbed his uncle in the back, injuring his spine.

Mr Youell said the uncle described feeling a blow and then realising he had been stabbed in the back and said he felt a loss of feeling in his lower body.

Mr Youell said an ambulance was called and the victim had to spend three weeks in hospital.

He said he victim had been left with long-term effects and now walks with a limp and is unable to work as before, as he can no longer stand for long periods.

He said that the victim had to undergo extensive physiotherapy and said the injury would affect him for the rest of his life.

Sentencing Balaboskinas, Judge Katharine Moore told him that the offence happened almost two years ago and would have been dealt with but for him fleeing the country.

Judge Moore said the stabbing happened at a time meant to be a celebration and had left his uncle with lasting ill-effects: 'It was a penetrating blow and a spinal cord was injured. This was a life-limiting injury.'

John Morgans for Balaboskinas, said: 'It was a single blow in a moment of madness.'

He said he was only 18 at the time and had been allowed to drink in adult company.

He said that Balaboskinas only spoke limited English but was putting his time to good use while on remand: 'He is doing his best to improve his English skills.'

Mr Morgans said that Balaboskinas would face deportation after serving his sentence.