A MASTERS student who struck out with a knife during a row with a friend has been spared jail.

Abdul Lardhi, 41, plunged a kitchen knife into Brendan Connolly's leg after a night out ended in violence.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the friends, who were both students at Sunderland University, fell out on the way home from the city centre.

When they got back to Mr Connolly's accommodation, they started fighting.

Mr Connolly suffered cuts to his hand and a knife wound to his thigh that needed hospital treatment.

Lardhi was arrested and found to be in possession of a lock-knife. He admitted unlawful wounding and possessing a bladed article.

His barrister, Glen Gatland, told the court Lardhi was 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 accomodation in the city, has completed a masters degree in media studies and is awaiting his results which are due in September.

Mr Gatland told the court that Lardhi, who supports his four brothers and five sisters in Abu Dabi, took out the knife in a bid to scare Mr Connolly during the row.

He said: "He is very, very sorry for this. They were very good friends."

Mr Gatland said Lardhi had been given the lock knife as a keepsake and had not realised it was illegal.

Lardhi was sentenced to nine months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

The judge told him the sentence was suspended because it has been confirmed he will be leaving the country.