An alcoholic who repeatedly stabbed a friend in the leg during a drunken Christmas Eve argument is facing jail after being convicted of unlawful wounding.

Michael Crisp, 37, from Vicarage Road, Hounslow, plunged a knife into fellow drinker William Saville four times and then slashed his arm.

After the attack at the victim's flat in Sheerwater, Surrey, Crisp dialled 999 and drunkenly confessed he had stabbed his pal. He claimed in court he had done it in self defence after Mr Saville, 45, had threatened him with a hammer.

But a jury dismissed his story and Crisp was found guilty following a four day trial at Guildford Crown Court. He was cleared of a more serious alternative charge of wounding with intent.

Jill Beale, prosecuting, told the court that the pair had both been successful in their younger lives but lost important jobs and became homeless as a result of drinking.

She said: "They were both drinking and some time in the afternoon there was an argument. William Saville can't remember anything about it or what he was doing that day.

"There must have been an argument and during that Michael Crisp admits causing the injuries - there is no dispute about that.

"He called 999 and asked for an ambulance. He said he had used a knife anda knife was found at the scene."

The former advertisement manager told the court that he lost his top city job at the Association of Corporate Treasurers three years ago because of his alcoholism He told the jury: "I am not a very happy person," adding: "I drink every day, I am drunk now, you can probably tell."

Crisp, of Vicarage Road, Hounslow, was remanded in custody for reports and will be sentenced on September 10.

Recorder Jack Bayliss said: "A custodial sentence is quite inevitable given the nature of the injuries and weapon used."