SINGAPORE - An odd-job worker who stabbed an acquaintance repeatedly after a row was jailed for 18 months on Thursday.

Goh Meng Hee, 63, pleaded guilty to causing grievous hurt to Mr Ong King Hwa at Whampoa Drive 'Makan Place' just before 7am on Dec 1 last year.

The 57-year-old unemployed man suffered cuts to his chest and forearm, along with rib injuries.

Assistant Public Prosecutor Andrew Low told the court that the men fell out at at about 3am after drinking beer at the market.

Goh took a knife from his kitchen and returned to look for Mr Ong to "teach him a lesson".

After finding Mr Ong asleep on a seat he woke him up and they went to the back of the market where fewer people were around.

During a scuffle, Goh took the knife from his shorts and thrust it at Mr Ong several times before a stallholder intervened.

Mr Ong was taken to hospital.

Goh was caught on CCTV thrusting the knife at Mr Ong at least eight times. He surrendered to police on Dec 22.

In mitigation, he said that Mr Ong had stolen his bicycle and on the night in question he had bought Mr Ong a beer, yet he wanted to beat him up after.

District Judge Christopher Goh said Goh's actions were disproportionate to what had happened.

He backdated Goh's sentence to Dec 24. Goh could have been jailed for up to 10 years and fined. He cannot be caned as he is over 50.