A STAB victim was taken to hospital with a kitchen knife buried five inches into his stomach, a court was told.

Andrew Bell, 24, thought he had been punched in the stomach in the incident, which happened in a Darlington street. But his father, sitting in his car nearby, saw him being stabbed.

The kitchen knife, with a five-and-a-half inch blade, was stuck in his stomach almost to the handle, and he was taken to hospital where it was removed.

The blade entered his small bowel and he was kept in hospital for four days, said Christopher Williamson, prosecuting.

His attacker, Michael Coates, 21, who was yesterday jailed for three years, had accused him of taking his girlfriend's mobile phone, Teesside Crown Court was told.

It happened outside a house where a group had been drinking and taking cocaine.

Mr Bell had not taken the phone and offered to call the number to see if it was still in the house.

But Coates had been involved in a violent row with his girlfriend about the phone and suddenly lunged at Mr Bell.

Mr Williamson said: "He had been stabbed in the stomach, although he did not realise it.

"His father who was sitting in his car nearby saw Coates lunge at him with a knife. As Coates walked off he said to the father, 'I'll have you too'.

"The knife was stuck in his stomach almost up to the handle."

Mr Bell's girlfriend said she thought the knife had come from her kitchen.

Dan Cordey, defending, said Coates had been using crack cocaine, and he realised that he had to turn his life around.

Coates claimed he took the knife for protection and he only intended to scare Mr Bell if it became necessary.

Coates of Alwyn Road, Darlington, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent on January 11.