Jason Howells had been charged with the murder of 23-year-old Fynn Western-Davey, but was cleared of that charge by jurors after a 15-day trial at Chester Crown Court.

They instead found him guilty of manslaughter as a result of provocation by a 10-2 majority.

Howells, 35, will also serve two years for possession of cocaine and heroin with intent to supply, having admitted those charges prior to the trial.

He will serve half of his sentence in jail, and the final six years on licence.

Howells had been accused of deliberately stabbing Mr Western-Davey in the heart with a kitchen knife at the Chester home he shared with girlfriend Nicola Bishop, 25, who was acquitted of all charges last week.

Howells had pleaded not guilty to the crime, which is said to have taken place after he confronted Mr Western-Davey over a missing stash of drugs.

Mr Michael Chambers, prosecuting, said Howells' actions in inventing a cover story immediately after the fatal blow were revealing.

He said: "He knew he was going to be arrested and he knew he had to come up with a story because he knew he had quite deliberately, and in anger, stabbed Fynn Western-Davey to death."

Howells was already in debt to a main drug supplier, known only as 'Mark,' so after his latest drugs stash was stolen by Mr Western-Davey he decided to confront the deceased while under the influence of cocaine.

Lies told by Howells immediately after the incident were not, as Howells has argued, to protect Miss Bishop from the reality of his drug dealing, but to protect himself, the court heard.

Mr Guy Gozem, defending, argued text messages indicated Mr Western-Davey was in debt to a dealer and that he was the aggressor. In contrast, Howells had appeared 'perfectly calm'.

The court heard Howells told police Mr Western-Davey was the aggressor and that he feared for the lives of himself and his partner. He told detectives: "If I had not picked that knife up I don't think I would be sat here now with the mood he was in and the impression I was getting off him."

Howells claimed the deceased 'sort of ran into the knife' during the incident.
But the defendant had initially told police it was Mr Western-Davey who had the knife which he had held against Miss Bishop's throat.

Howells later denied he had deliberately lied to officers, saying he was in a panic.