A KNIFEMAN who almost stabbed a police dog to death during a fight in the street has walked free from court.

Zoltan the German shepherd suffered horrendous injuries and needed emergency surgery after tackling the drunken man.

But John McKenna, 39, was spared jail and given a one-year community rehabilitation order with 12-month supervision when he appeared in court yesterday - despite a criminal record for arson with intent to endanger life, assault and affray.

Market trader McKenna - whose last conviction was more than seven years ago -was told by the judge that she was taking "an exceptional course of action" by keeping him out of prison.

Recorder Kathleen Buckingham said: "This is a very serious offence and I have very seriously considered sending you to custody.

"You must appreciate that I am only able to consider this course of action after hearing about your efforts to live a law-abiding life."

Teesside Crown Court was told that McKenna armed himself with two kitchen knives after a row erupted between his wife, Faye, and stepson, Kenneth, at their home in Russell Street, Stockton, in April.

McKenna ended up in the street and went beserk when he saw that police had been called to deal with the late-night disturbance.

Waving the knives about and running up and down the road, he swore at officers saying: "Bring it on. I'll have you all. Come on I'll have the lot of you."

Andrea Pitt, prosecuting, said dog handler, PC Andy Lawton, arrived with four-year-old Zoltan and McKenna was warned the dog would be released unless he put down his weapons. But McKenna became more aggressive and warned: "Come on, set the dog on me. I'll stab it."

An armed officer used a plastic bullet - the first time a baton round had been deployed by Cleveland Police - but it failed to knock the knifeman to the ground and they had to use CS gas after he stabbed Zoltan.

Vets who treated the dog for a seven-inch deep cut to the throat, said the wound was the most extensive they had ever seen.

McKenna, who admitted two counts of possessing an offensive weapon, affray, criminal damage and animal cruelty, apologised to the court yesterday.

His barrister Nigel Soppitt said: "He, of course, bitterly regrets what happened that night and it is obvious that drink played its part."

Mr Soppitt said McKenna had led a trouble-free life since his affray conviction in 1997, was making efforts to combat his alcohol problem and his behaviour was out of character.

PC Lawton, who had Zoltan back on duty for the first time two weeks ago, said: "I didn't think I'd see the day.

"During the two-hour surgery I thought he wouldn't survive."