A father who fatally stabbed his violent brother after a series of drunken flashpoints has been jailed for two years.

With time spent on remand, 28-year-old Louis Lumpkin is likely to be free within about seven months.

But a judge told him he would have to live forever with the guilt of killing his younger brother Gary, who leaves behind a daughter.

Judge Andrew Patience, QC, added: "This surely is a case as much about human tragedy as it is about human wickedness. It is obvious that your family is devastated, as you are, by what has happened to your brother.

"Nothing anyone can say can bring him back. In the cold, calm atmosphere of a courtroom, the events that were happening that Sunday seem so trivial individually, away from the charged atmosphere of the day and the influence of alcohol."

Lumpkin, of Artillery Road, Ramsgate, admitted manslaughter on the grounds of provocation and his not guilty plea to murder was accepted.

Maidstone Crown Court heard he grabbed a knife and inflicted the fatal injury, as well as seven other wounds, after his 26-year-old brother smashed a mug on his head.

They were with others at the home in Northdown Road, Margate, of their mother Zanya and her partner Tony Togneri on February 24.

Oliver Saxby, prosecuting, said they watched a football match on television while drinking. There were a number of flashpoints, mainly involving Gary.

At one point, he grabbed his brother by the T-shirt and broke his neck chain. Gary grabbed him around the neck and waved his fist in his face.

A friend who was there, Damien Riley, later told police he believed Gary was "out to wind somebody up that night". He described the different temperaments of the brothers as like Jekyll and Hyde.

More arguments followed and Gary threw a punch at his brother. After midnight, the trouble turned to tragedy.

Mr Togneri saw Gary staggering towards him. He could see Louis Lumpkin was holding a knife.

Mrs Lumpkin came downstairs to see Gary lying bare-chested on the floor. Police officers arrived before paramedics and tried to administer first aid to Gary but there was no response.

Lumpkin told them: "We had a fight. I didn’t mean it. I’ll take any punishment."