A PREGNANT teenager who stabbed another woman in self-defence escaped a prison sentence yesterday.

Antonia Claire Evans was confronted by the other woman outside the home of a friend in Fenhall Green, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, last July.

Durham Crown Court was told a feud developed after 17-year-old Evans was accused of making comments about the older woman, aged 22, days earlier.

Julie Clemitson, prosecuting, said several of the victim's friends were present after she sent a number of text messages, as was Evans' mother, who she had called fearing there was going to be violence.

Slaps were exchanged and both pulled each other's hair, before Evans, now 18, was seen to punch her victim in the back.

It emerged she was carrying a 4in-bladed vegetable knife in her hands as she inflicted the blows.

The pair were separated, with the knife still sticking from the shoulder blade of the victim.

She was taken to hospital for treatment for a total of ten stab puncture wounds, one near an eye and another near an ear, plus another which penetrated her stomach wall, piercing her lung.

Christopher Mitford, mitigating, said Evans only armed herself with the knife fearing she would come under attack.

He said she only produced the knife when the other woman was kneeling on her stomach at a time when Evans was several weeks pregnant.

"She accepts she used the knife to remove the injured party to protect her unborn child."

Evans, of Ida Place, Newton Aycliffe, who admitted unlawful wounding at a previous hearing, was given a one-year community rehabilitation order.

Judge Richard Lowden said he was taking "the wholly exceptional course" as it was clear the incident was sparked by the hostile group who went to the house seeking Evans.