Man used knife 'out of loyalty' to friend

David Edwin Corrigan stabbed his victim several times during the dispute on the doorstep of a house in Horden, County Durham, on June 3.

Durham Crown Court heard that the 23-year-old man targeted by Corrigan escaped serious injury, although some tendons on his forearm were left exposed.

Corrigan, 22, of Willow Grove, Horden, who admitted wounding and breaching an anti-social behaviour order (Asbo), was jailed for a total of two years and nine months.

The court was told he had been drinking at the nearby home of a friend, who showed him the knife that he used for fishing.

Lesley Kirkup, prosecuting, said Corrigan's friend traded blows with the victim after calling at his home in Eighth Street.

Miss Kirkup said Corrigan arrived and landed a number of blows round the body and arms of the man.

He ran from the scene, but was picked out by the victim during an identity parade.

Miss Kirkup said that as a result of the incident Corrigan breached the asbo, imposed for three years in April 2005, by being drunk, possessing a knife and assaulting someone in a public place.

Stephen Constantine, mitigating, said alcohol was the cause of much of Corrigan's offending and he had been drinking heavily that day.

"Under the influence of alcohol and out of misguided loyalty, he got involved in this fight, simply trying to assist a friend. Coming from his friend's house he still had the knife with him."

Mr Constantine said while in custody Corrigan attended a substance-misuse related programme to rid himself of his drink problem.

Jailing him, Judge Richard Lowden told Corrigan: "You got into a fight involving your friend, and in the course of that it became very much more serious, by using a knife.

"Fortunately, most of the injuries were slight and it is a mercy it was not more serious."

Judge Lowden ordered that Corrigan's period of licence should be extended for two years after the sentence expires, as he felt he falls into the category of "a dangerous offender".