A man accused of stabbing a 95-year-old war veteran in the head has pleaded guilty to a raft of charges and has been let off a charge of attempted murder. 

Jacob Komene, 20, admitted wounding Albert Chant with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and entering a building with intent to commit a crime while armed with a knife at the High Court at Auckland today.

A charge of attempted murder was dropped. 

Justice Mark Woolford issued Komene with a first strike warning and remanded him in custody for sentencing on December 4.

Komene entered Chant's Glendene home by jimmying open a window with a knife on April 18.

He then entered the master bedroom where he found Chant preparing to go to bed.

Chant turned to get to the telephone to call for help and activated his Lifelink alarm. 

This enraged Komene who stabbed Chant him in the face.

He only stopped when his fist holding the 5cm blade reached Chant's face. 

The laceration severed a nerve and an artery.

Komene escaped through the bedroom window.

The bloodied knife was located and Komene was found at a neighbouring address a short time later.

- © Fairfax NZ News