A sculptor who attacked his estranged wife's boyfriend with a knife was spared a jail sentence yesterday.

Moroccan Ahmed El-Haddad, 35, formerly of Darlington, admitted wounding Tony Hussain and making threats to kill in July last year.

Shaun Dodds, prosecuting, told Teesside Crown Court that Mr Hussain had begun a relationship with El-Haddad's estranged wife, Suzanne.

He said El-Haddad, now of Kelso Gardens, Heddingley, Leeds, had been with his three-year-old daughter in Darlington's Cornmill Centre last year when she saw Mr Hussain and said: "Hello Tony."

Mr Dodds said it was at that point El-Haddad found out his wife was in a new relationship and it "affected him".

On July 15, he said, Mr Hussain was walking back to Mrs El-Haddad's home, in Raby Terrace, Darlington, when he was called by the defendant who said he knew Mr Hussain had been "having a sexual relationship" with his wife and said: "I'm going to kill you".

He said Mr Hussain was punched in the face and when he tried to run away was hit in the head with a Swiss army knife.

El-Haddad went to his wife's house and said: "He is a coward. He ran away. I think I have killed him. Let me wash his blood from my hands", the court heard.

Mr Dodds said the knife was recovered and El-Haddad was found to be carrying razor blades and a wooden dagger.

John Gillette, defending, said the attack was "entirely out of character" and that El-Haddad, who has lived in Spain, Morocco and England had never been in trouble before and was not a violent man.

He said his client was a diligent worker well thought of by his employers. He said he had found the separation from his wife "very difficult".

Mr Gillette said Mr Hussain had made a "crude reference" about Mrs El-Haddad and her husband had reacted to it.

The items found on El-Haddad were tools for sculpting work.

He had exhibited his work in venues around the North-East, including the Central Library in Newcastle, the court was told.

Judge Peter Fox QC said El-Haddad was a "talented young man" who did not pose a threat to the public and would not appear before the court again.

El-Haddad cried as Judge Fox suspended a six-month jail sentence for two years and ordered him to pay £500 compensation to his victim