A JUDGE has backed the heartfelt plea of a grieving father who urged young people not to carry knives after his son was stabbed to death.

Judge David Hodson, the Recorder of Newcastle, yesterday added his “small voice”

to the appeal as he sentenced Tony Blades, 19, to 12 years in jail for the manslaughter of 21-year-old Anthony Blakelock.

Blades, who claimed he had been acting in self-defence when he stabbed Mr Blakelock, was found not guilty of murder by a jury at a previous hearing.

The court was told that Mr Blakelock, of Cook Crescent, Murton, County Durham, died after a kitchen knife penetrated his heart after the two agreed to meet for a fight in the early hours of Saturday, September 27, last year. Mr Blakelock had come armed with a knuckleduster.

Blades, of Luke Crescent, Murton, who denied murder, was also sentenced yesterday for wounding with intent, of which he was convicted after a four-day trial at Durham Crown Court last November.

That case related to a confrontation on September 19, 2007, in which Blades smashed a car window and leaned through it to stab an old rival with an 8in kitchen knife. The victim suffered two wounds, including a severe laceration to the arm.

Judge Hodson said: “In the past, I have had occasion to comment on the frequency with which knives are carried and used. Often, as in this case, there are terrible consequences for the innocent victims and their families.”

The judge said he had heard the “moving and dignified”

victim impact statement of father Philip Blakelock who urged young people to “think before they carry a knife”.

Judge Hodson added: “May I add my own small voice to that heartfelt plea from a devastated father.”

Mother Susan Lormor said her son would still be alive had Blades been held in custody after the first knife incident.

Addressing him in a statement read out in court, she said: “Perhaps some day when you have children of your own you’ll realise the utter dispair you have caused.”

Defence barrister, Franz Muller QC, mitigating, said that Blades, who has an IQ of 70, was devastated because “not only had he killed someone, but he had killed someone who was his closest friend and had been for some time”.

Judge Hodson said Blades, posed “a significant risk of causing serious harm to members of the public” and must therefore remain on licence for five years after his release.

For wounding with intent, Blades was sentenced to a concurrent jail sentence of seven years jail, with an extended licence period of three years.