A MAN confronted in a case of mistaken identity over-reacted by taking out a knife in response, a court heard.

In the ensuing violence, Barry Alan Burnett inflicted eight blows on the other man in the late night street attack.

Burnett, 23, who was yesterday jailed for three years and 11 months, disappeared after the attack and only gave himself up seven months later.

Durham Crown Court heard that the victim was stabbed in the face and about the back and upper body in the incident, on a Sunday night in Lanchester last November.

Burnett's girlfriend joined in for good measure, punching the man and hitting him with her handbag.

The victim's three cousins, who had been drinking with him in Lanchester, County Durham, went to his aid while Burnett and his girlfriend left the scene.

Ros Scott Bell, prosecuting, said the victim was given first aid at a nearby pub, before being taken by ambulance to hospital.

He suffered a damaged nerve in the left-hand side of the face, plus injuries to the left arm and back, includ- ing one finger-length deep wound.

His injuries were initially treated as life-threatening, and he remained in hospital for two days.

Ms Scott Bell said Burnett's description was circulated on the police national computer, but it was not until June 10 that he walked into a police station accompanied by a solicitor.

He made no replies in interview, but was pinpointed by three of the cousins on an identity parade.

One of Burnett's fingerprints was also found on the container of a Chinese meal discarded at the scene of the incident, said Ms Scott Bell.

Burnett, of Pine Street, South Moor, Stanley, County Durham, admitted wounding with intent.

Bob Spragg, mitigating, said Burnett pleaded guilty on the basis that he was approached by the men and confused for his twin, who had previously had an affair with a partner of one of the cousins.

Mr Spragg added that Burnett had armed himself with the knife for protection following an attack a fortnight earlier, but accepts he went "too far" defending himself.

Jailing him for nearly four years, Judge George Moorhouse told Burnett: "You said you acted in self defence, but you went right over the top and the use of a knife cannot be countenanced."