A TEENAGER stabbed another youth with a craft knife in a club car park after an earlier confrontation in the premises, a court heard.

Michael Pratt, 19, was yesterday sentenced to three years in a young offenders' institution following the incident outside the Big Club, in Eden Street, Horden, east Durham, late on April 24.

Pratt, of Seventh Avenue, Horden, denied wounding with intent, but was convicted by a jury following a trial at Durham Crown Court last month.

Amanda Rippon, prosecuting, said the victim suffered cuts to his head, arms and body, but Pratt claimed his actions were in self defence, as he had been set on by a group of about five youths.

The court heard that when police arrived the victim was being attended by paramedics and, despite an atmosphere described as hostile, officers were met by a wall of silence from others at the scene.

When arrested, Pratt told police he had the knife in his pocket as he had been laying carpets at his sister's house earlier in the day.

Anne Haugstad, mitigating, said Pratt had a drink problem which he had tried to address.

She said he maintained he did not start the trouble at the club that night.

Imposing the custodial sentence, Judge Richard Lowden told Pratt: "You used that Stanley knife, slashing your victim several times about the head, and down towards the neck.

"If your luck had been out, it could have killed him."