A TEENAGER who was stabbed after drinking at an 18th birthday party had to have a kidney removed, a court was told yesterday.

Jamie Singh, 17, was lured into a fight by a man who had a knife behind his back, said Dan Cordey, prosecuting.

They had both been refused entry to the Zanzibar nightclub in Stockton; Mr Singh because he was too young and his attacker because he was drunk, the court heard.

Mr Singh was shouting abuse at a doorman when the other man told him he would fight him.

A doorman saw that the man appeared to have something behind his back and he was followed by Mr Singh into Stockton High Street, where a short fight took place.

Teesside Crown Court heard that when Mr Singh's friends arrived, they saw blood on the back of his shirt and realised he had been stabbed. The wound had penetrated one of his kidneys, which surgeons had to remove.

A fortnight later, police arrested Stephen Large, 26, who was picked out in an identification parade by Mr Singh and a doorman, but he said he was at home with his mother, a neighbour and a friend at the time.

Mr Large, of Hind Street, Stockton, pleaded not guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm on April 10.

The case continues.