A MAN who scarred his victim when he thrust a blade into his face was jailed indefinitely for the protection of the public yesterday.

Alan Wood, 20, struck Lee Costella with a Stanley knife during a premeditated attack so hard he fractured his cheekbone.

Mr Costella was left with a 6in wound that required 18 stitches. He has a scar from the top of his right ear to the top of his lip.

Wood, of Flagg Court, South Shields, South Tyneside, who has five previous convictions for carrying weapons, denied wounding with intent and was tried by a jury in September.

During the trial, Wood changed his plea to guilty.

Wood pounced on his former friend in Devonshire Street, South Shields, last June. He has since been prescribed anti-psychotic medication to control his violent outbursts.

Judge John Evans told him yesterday: "You constitute a significant risk to members of the public.

"You are said to be proud of your behaviour, smiling and laughing when you were asked about the offence and how you thought your victim felt.

"You regard such means of dealing with conflict -that is using a knife to slash someone's face -as entirely acceptable. You are about to learn the rest of society does not share that belief."

The judge jailed Wood indefinitely for public protection and ordered he should serve at least three-and-a-half years before he is eligible for parole.

Peter Schofield, for Wood, said his client had never been violent in the past.