Miracle man David Siddle somehow survived a drunken attack which left a knife sticking out of the side of his head.

David thought he had been punched by yob Scott Thompson and walked away unaware of the attack's true horror.

He had to be told by a friend that Thompson had rammed the pocket knife into his temple.

Amazingly the three inch blade missed brain tissue and the optic nerve, lodging behind his right eye.

Apart from severe shock and 24 stitches David, 20, left hospital none the worse for the traumatic ordeal.

Thompson, 18, was given a two year sentence for the attack outside a nightclub in Consett, Co Durham, after a judge saw the horrifying pictures of David's injuries.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that he underwent a life-saving operation under general anaesthetic to remove the blade which was dangerously close to his right eye.

After 24 staples and four stitches the terrified clubber has a permanent scar to his head and is scared to go out alone.

The court heard how the attack happened as David and his friend enjoyed a night out in Consett, Co Durham.

Chris Prince told the court how the victim and his friend came across Scott Thompson and a pal when an argument began.

Mr Prince said: "The altercation was neither here not there but then the two groups met again outside."

The court heard how Mr Siddle walked past Thompson, who was watching two other men fighting in the street.

Mr Prince added: "The next thing that happened was that Mr Siddle felt a thud to the right side of his head, his temple.

"As he turned his head he saw the defendant's hand pull away. He had no weapon."

David did not realise what had happened and had to be told by a friend that the knife was stuck in the side of his head.

Mr Prince said: "The reason that his hands were empty was that the knife was showing from the victim's head."

Paramedics and police were called to the scene in the town's Victoria Road and an injured Mr Siddle was rushed straight to hospital.

The court was tyold how he was wheeled on a hospital trolley with the knife still in place to the operating theatre where the weapon was removed.

Mr Prince added: "Disturbing images can be seen showing the knife in place, this was miraculous. You would imagine there to be devastating injuries behind the eye with the placing of the knife.

"The pictures are dramatic and Mr Siddle was clearly lucky."

The court was told how the delicate operation went smoothly with no complications and Mr Siddle was released from hospital after just four days.

Mr Prince described how following the attack David suffers cpontinuing headaches and nightmares.

He said: "He is suffering from depression and a significant personality change, he is now terrified about going out alone."

In a witness statement David said: "My life has undergone a comlete change, I am scared to go out alone, in fear of another attack.

"Every time I look in the mirror I see the scar to my head and 24 staples and four stitches."

The court was told how teenager Thompson was originally charged with attempted murder but entered a guilty plea to a lesser charge on the day of his trial in September.

Stephen Rich, mitigating, said 18-year-old Thompson feared an attack by a group of David's friends who were already fighting when he arrived at the scene.

Mr Rich said: "This young man had gone out with his pal, Shane Plitch, who had in his possession the three inch blade in question.

"The defendant took it from Mr Plitch and when he feared reprisals from the ongoing fight he swung his hand in the direction of Mr Siddle."

Jailing Thompson, of Lumley Drive, Delves Lane, Consett, County Durham, for two years, Judge David Hodson said: "You committed a very very serious offence, it may have been that you found yourself in a vulnerable position and it was not a fight of your making but you in turn produced the knife and plunged it into the side of the head of an unfortunate Mr Siddle.

"You have probably seen the disturbing pictures of the knife protruding from his head. You must have felt disgust.

"It is a miracle that there was no more serious injuries."

Thompson, who admitted wounding with intent, was sent to a young offenders institution for two years.