A father-of-four who murdered his brother-in-law in a frenzied knife attack has been jailed for life.

Peter Topping, 28, said he remembered nothing about the stabbing which left Darren Liddy, 24, dying in a pool of blood.

A jury at Newcastle Crown Court found him guilty yesterday of murder.

Topping attacked Mr Liddy during a party at his sister Sharon's house in Swifton Drive, Sunderland, which she shared with Topping.

Mr Liddy was there with his partner Leanne, who witnessed the stabbing.

John Milford QC, for Topping, told the court: "He is a young man who has no real history of violence, only minor matters in the past."