A MAN stabbed a friend in the leg during a row over noise at a house party.

Thomas Arthur Hobkirk, 20, asked three youths to quieten down in the kitchen at his sister’s home, in Malvern Crescent, Seaham.

But when one threw a punch, which missed, Hobkirk grabbed a 6in-bladed serrated steak knife.

Durham Crown Court heard he thrust it into aggressor’s leg, completely passing through his thigh.

Victoria Lambelle said the victim was so drunk he was unaware of his injury and only sought treatment next morning.

She said despite the depth of the wound, no major damage appeared to have been caused.

The victim only reported the February 1 incident three days later and police inquiries were hindered as no witness would give a statement.

Hobkirk, 20, of The Avenue, Seaham, admitted unlawful wounding, on the basis it was self-defence “taken too far”.

As the victim failed to appear, Miss Lambelle said the prosecution would not contest the defendant’s account.

Alex Burns, mitigating, said Hobkirk is of previous good character and works hard as a packaging operative.

“This was an instant reaction to a punch. I have to accept it was an unpleasant injury and he couldn’t believe what he did.”

Imposing a one year sentence in a young offenders’ institution, Judge Christopher Prince told Hobkirk: “It was a very dangerous thing to do and it was only by luck and not good judgement that no serious injury was caused.”