A woman’s throat was cut with a kitchen knife as she tried to intervene and break-up a fight between two men, a court was told.

Defendant Kieron Gorringe was carrying the knife as he chased and caught up with a male who had been drinking with him and others at a house in Gilesgate, Durham, on the evening of February 3, last year.

Durham Crown Court heard that as the young woman reached the scene Gorringe was fighting the other male on the ground, near a children’s play area, in Wakenshaw Road.

Richard Bennett, prosecuting, said she grabbed Gorringe by the shoulder to try to pull him away from the other man, but the defendant turned and lashed out with the knife, slicing across her throat area.

Read more: Attack near County Durham school as children arrived for the day

Mr Bennett said there was an immediate heavy blood loss and Gorringe thought she was going to die.

Others present began applying clothing to the wound to try to stem the blood loss, as Gorringe was heard saying: “I’ve killed her. I’m going to prison for life.”

Police arrived at the scene at 7.34pm and the victim was able to say that she thought she had been cut by the knife held by the defendant.

Mr Bennett said she was taken by ambulance to hospital where the wound was closed in surgery and, although considered a “severe” injury, she was expected to make a full recovery.

The defendant was located by police and he appeared intoxicated.

He was asked how it happened and he told a police officer: “It was me, mate.

"Please don’t tell me she’s going to die.”

Gorringe said he had been drinking earlier at the house where two other males became argumentative, so the woman who was ultimately injured, asked them to leave.

As they were thrown out, he picked up a knife and ran out after them, and while in a fight with one of them, the knife made contact with the woman’s throat.

Mr Bennett said Gorringe denied being reckless and told police he thought it was “reasonable” to be holding a knife in the circumstances.

The 27-year-old defendant, of Florida Street, Sunderland, admitted charges of unlawful wounding and carrying a bladed article in public.

His record was said to include past incidents of violence, including a wounding offence for which he previously served a 12-month prison sentence, in 2018.

Tony Cornberg, in mitigation, said immediately the inadvertent blow was inflicted, the violence ended.

“It was as though he snapped out of it and realised the horrendousness of what happened.

“He had simply put the blinkers on.

"In his mind there was no reason for her to be behind him.

“He took responsibility for it at the scene, with no flam or excuses.

“He was terrified she would die.”

Mr Cornberg said the defendant's record shows he has, “poor impulse control and problem-solving skills.”

The Probation Service pre-sentence report stated that it was recognised Gorringe was highly remorseful, but he has poor anger management going back to his childhood.

Mr Cornberg said the defendant now lives a, “far more structured life”, as the incident has been, "a wake-up call", for him.

Read more: Victim confronted in Stanley street and stabbed four times

"He has been in work for six-days-a-week, working for a property developer, building flat roofs.

“His substance misuse has reduced and he has distanced himself from the peers he was mixing with.”

Judge James Adkin told Gorringe that the source of the disagreement at the house may never be known, but it resulted in two males being ejected.

“You thought it was necessary to chase them from the house and you caught up with them to fight with them.

“The injured party here tried to pull you away and you lashed out behind you.

"She got cut with the knife.

“It’s pure chance in this case that wound wasn’t deeper or slightly to the left or to the right.

“Operations were needed and stitching, but she has made a full recovery, although there is a scar across the front of her voice box.

“This proved a highly dangerous weapon, causing a deep cut to the throat, all highly distressing, but I’m told you are genuinely remorseful.”

Judge Adkin imposed a 30-month prison sentence on Gorringe, having reduced it by 25-per cent from 40 months, to reflect his prompt guilty plea.

Read next:

               ‘Flirting’ claim led woman to knife attack husband

               Man jailed for stabbing person who pursued him from shop in Peterlee

               Future of Durham city restaurant 'left in jeopardy' after burglary

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