A MAN who stabbed his girlfriend’s stepfather through the heart with a steak knife was yesterday jailed for 11 years for manslaughter.

Nicolas Warrender, 23, attacked 53-yearold Kevin Gaunt on the doorstep of his home in Avenue Vivian, Fencehouses, Houghton-le-Spring, Wearside, following a family row.

A jury at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday found Warrender not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter by a majority verdict of 11 to one.

The court was told Warrender shared the house next door with Mr Gaunt’s stepdaughter, and the pair had been out drinking when trouble flared at about 10pm on June 17.

Warrender, who was intoxicated, armed himself with a knife with a 4in blade and confronted Mr Gaunt on his doorstep, where he stabbed him.

Mr Gaunt made his way back to the kitchen, where he collapsed on the floor.

He was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The weapon was never recovered.

Giving evidence, Warrender said he did not know the fatal wound had been inflicted and he told jurors he had not intended to harm anyone on the night of the killing.

Warrender claimed he had been holding a steak knife he was using to eat an apple when Mr Gaunt punched him to the ground, but the jury rejected his claims that it was an accidental stabbing.

Toby Hebworth, mitigating, said that while Warrender had previous convictions for violence, none involved the carrying of a weapon – and his last conviction was four years ago.

Judge James Goss said: “I am quite satisfied that you took the knife with you at least prepared to use it as a weapon, if the need arose.

“The taking of the knife for that purpose is a serious aggravating feature of the offence.

“The offence was committed virtually on the victim’s doorstep in the presence of his wife and his wife’s granddaughter – a child not yet four years old and who was clearly deeply upset by what took place.”

Warrender, formerly of Corrighan Terrace, in nearby East Rainton, pleaded not guilty to murder.

Speaking after the hearing, Mr Gaunt’s cousin, Jason Gaunt, said he believed the sentence should have been longer.