The jury in the attempted murder trial of a teenager who inflicted multiple stab wounds on a man he branded ‘a bully’ has been sent home for the weekend.

Taylor Bentham, 19, said he armed himself with two kitchen knives ‘for protection’ from a man who had beaten him up earlier in the day.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the man, who was out celebrating his 29th birthday, was stabbed twice in the abdomen, once in the thigh and twice in the buttocks.

Read more: Durham man who stabbed 'bully' five times: "I did not want to kill him"

The incident happened on Bent House Lane, off Sherburn Road, Durham, at around 3pm on April 7, Good Friday.

The jury was told Bentham set his Mastiff dog on the man before attacking him with two kitchen knives.

Bentham has admitted wounding with intent and being in charge of a dangerous dog as well as possessing the knives but, giving evidence in court, he said the dog must have followed him and he did not realise it was there.

He told jurors he went out to find a ring he lost when they man attacked him earlier.

He said he took the knives to warn the man not to attack him again.

Bentham, of Cuthbert Avenue, Sherburn Road, Durham, who was 18 at the time, said the man was ‘a bully’ and he had not intended to hurt him.

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He told the court he had been smoking cannabis and taken around 30 Pregabalin tablets, which are usually used to treat epilepsy and anxiety, before the incident.

The jury was sent out to deliberate at around 11am on Friday morning but had still not reached a verdict by 4pm.

Judge Tim Gittins has asked jurors to be ready start their deliberations once again at 10am on Monday.