A MAN with a history of carrying weapons stabbed a friend and injured his dog after a drunken play fight got out of hand, a court heard yesterday.

Dean Scullion was jailed for five years for knifing his life-long pal in the neck and back after he was bitten when his mate set his pet Chico onto him

Teesside Crown Court heard that he was on a suspended prison sentence at the time for having a blade in a shopping centre in Peterlee, County Durham.

Scullion, of Masefield Road, Middlesbrough, was told by Judge Peter Bowers that he is running the risk of an indefinite sentence unless he curbs his ways.

The judge told the 25-year-old: "It really has got to be underlined that you cannot carry a knife in public without going to prison for a very long time.

"You have got a terrible record. I suspect if you ever get caught again for this sort of offence, you could end up with an indefinite period in prison."

The court heard that Scullion has been prosecuted three times since November 2012 for having a blade in public, and was once caught with a knuckle-duster.

His barrister, Richard Bennett, told Judge Bowers: "He realises now that this is another classic case where alcohol drugs and weapons do not mix.

"He is obviously very upset for what he has done. These two young men had been friends as long ago as primary school. They are not on speaking terms now."

Prosecutor Jenny Haigh told the court that Scullion's pal swung a metal dog chain at him and said "get him, Chico" before the pet bit his left arm.

The judge said Scullion "lashed out" after the provocation, leaving the victim with blood spurting from a neck wound, which was close to his throat.

Six months of the term imposed on Scullion, who admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and having a blade, was for breaching the suspended sentence.

Judge Bowers told him: "you lashed out with the knife and caused a very serious injury. It penetrated his artery and could, in other circumstances, have killed him."