A MILLWALL fan who killed his friend by stabbing him through the eye in a drunken row over a minicab fare faces years behind bars.

Craig Griffin plunged a kitchen knife into Barry Johnson's face and then fled, leaving the 39-year-old with blade sticking out of his eye.

The force of the blow sent the blade into Mr Johnson's brain and he died in hospital two days later.

Griffin lashed out after a drink and drugs binge at Mr Johnson's home in Albert Road, Mottingham, which ended in a row over a £50 cab fare.

The 21-year-old had denied murder, claiming he had retaliated in self-defence after being attacked by Mr Johnson, but said he could not remember plunging the knife into his eye.

Last Friday an Old Bailey jury could not reach a verdict on the murder charge but unanimously convicted Griffin of manslaughter after more than two days of deliberations.

The prosecution opted not to retry Griffin on the murder charge.

Adjourning the case for reports, Judge Peter Rook said: "You have been convicted of a very serious offence and it is inevitable I will be passing a custodial sentence in your case.

"You are a young man and I need to know more about you before I sentence you.

"The report will detail to what extent you remain a threat to others."

Griffin and his victim met up in the Prince of Wales pub in Mottingham Road, Mottingham, on February 19 last year after they both watched a Crystal Palace versus Millwall match earlier in the day.

They went back to Mr Johnson's home and began drinking heavily and snorting cocaine.

Griffin left to collect cigarettes with £50 of Mr Johnson's money for a cab fare and a row erupted when he returned after spending it all.

The court heard Griffin claimed he had retaliated after Mr Johnson came at him with a knife.

He admitted stabbing Mr Johnson in the back, but "could not remember" ramming the blade in to his face and claimed he only found out about this injury when he was told by police.

Mr Johnson also had defence wounds on his hands and several cuts on his eyelids.

He was found by his housemate, John Davy, who pulled the blade from his eye.

Mr Johnson was still partly conscious when paramedics arrived to treat him but he died on February 21 at the Princess Royal University Hospital, Farnborough.

The court heard Griffin fled to a friend's house and his mother later agreed to wash his bloodstained clothes.

Unemployed Griffin, of Thursley Road, Mottingham denied murder and the judge entered a formal not guilty verdict on this charge.

Griffin, who had been on bail with a condition he lived in Dymchurch, Kent, gave a thumbs-up to friends and family in the public gallery as he was led to the cells.

He is due to be sentenced on June 8.