A student who struck out with a knife during a row with a friend may be spared jail.

Abdul Lardhi, 41, plunged a large kitchen knife into Brendon Connolly's leg after a night out in town erupted in violence.

Newcastle Crown Court was told that the friends, who were both students at Sunderland University, fell out when "horseplay got out of hand" on the way home from the city centre.

And when they got back to Mr Connolly's accommodation, violence erupted, which left Mr Connolly with lacerations to his hand and a knife wound to his thigh which needed hospital treatment, said Nick Ralph, prosecuting.

Lardhi was arrested and found to be in possession of a lock-knife.

He admitted unlawful wounding and possessing a bladed article.

Glen Gatland, mitigating, told the court how Lardhi is employed by the Ministry of Information and Culture in the United Arab Emirates and was studying in Britain under a scholarship.

Lardhi, living in student accommodation in the city, has completed a masters degree in media studies and is awaiting his results.

Judge David Hodson granted Lardhi bail until next Friday so documentation can be produced to the court to prove his post with the Ministry of Information and Culture is still open.

Judge Hodson said any prison sentence may be suspended if the required information is produced.