by Max Meads, reporter

Gordon Locke, who was found guilty of stabbing his neighbour Gordon Farnes to death after a row, has been jailed for life.

Locke, of no fixed abode, was found guilty at Maidstone Crown Court and on Thursday was handed a lengthy sentence by Judge David Griffith-Jones.

Judge Griffith-Jones said before handing over his sentence, “You were high on a cocktail of drugs. You had been consuming cannabis and cocaine in substantial quantities and excessive doses of prescription drug diazepam.”

“You left the flat with malevolent intent on teaching Mr Farnes a lesson, having first armed yourself with the knife.”

Mr Locke had ‘snapped’ and fatally attacked Mr Farnes following a noise complaint during an argument in which Mr Locke’s girlfriend had started to have a fit.

Mr Locke stabbed Mr Farnes twice in the torso with a fish knife, puncturing his heart and liver. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mr Locke will serve a life sentence, with the condition that he serve at least 22 years before being considered for parole.

Detective Inspector Chris Greenstreet, from the Major Crime Unit, said “Locke’s callous actions have deprived a family of a much loved son and he will rightly now spend a long time behind bars.”

Mr Farnes’ family also released a statement saying “Despite the verdict and sentence, one thing that will never change is that Gordon, our son, brother and nephew, is no longer with us.”

The Farnes family have also asked for privacy while they mourn and come to terms with their loss.