A VERBAL clash between two young men celebrating their birthdays resulted in one being stabbed at a city centre bus station.

Durham Crown Court heard that William Colin Hooper drew a lock knife while cornered by members of a group of revellers on the evening of Saturday, March 4.

David Crook, prosecuting, said that Hooper, who was 23 that day, was involved in an exchange of words at Durham's North Road bus station with members of the group, who had been drinking on a 21st birthday celebration.

"The incident was captured on the station's closed-circuit television system, which shows exactly what happens," said Mr Crook.

"There's a discrepancy as to exactly what was said on the lead-up to the stabbing. But the Crown would say he went out with what was quite a vicious knife.

"There is some suggestion the knife was bought for his birthday. Whether or not that was the case is not clear.

"What can be said is that he engaged himself in some sort of interaction with some drunken people.

"He drew a knife and was cornered. The victim says he went to disarm him, perhaps foolishly, and the defendant chased him and stabbed him once in the back."

After viewing the security camera footage during the lunch adjournment, Hooper denied wounding with intent, but pleaded guilty to the slightly lesser charge of unlawful wounding.

He also admitted possession of a bladed article, the lock knife, arising from the same incident.

Chris Morrison, for Hooper, asked for probation reports to be drawn up on him, before he is sentenced.

He said: "He's remanded in custody and has been since the incident, in March. There's no application for bail."

Judge Beatrice Bolton agreed to the request and adjourned sentence pending preparation of the reports.

"Unusually with such a stabbing, the Crown is prepared to accept the plea to the straight unlawful wounding."

Hooper, of Goodyear Crescent, Sherburn Road, Durham, was remanded in custody, to be brought back for sentence in the week of June 12.