A WOMAN stabbed a neighbour in the chest in a row sparked by children playing football outside her home, a court heard.

Diane Finley confronted the mother of one of the youngsters at a nearby football club social club before calling at her home at around midnight.

Durham Crown Court was told the woman's partner refused to allow Finley to enter, and she fell backwards, suffering a minor injury.

Ros Scott Bell, prosecuting, said at one point Finley stumbled backwards and suffered a minor injury.

Miss Scott Bell said she then got up and, "lashed out", at the man with a knife.

He suffered a wound in the chest area, for which he needed hospital treatment.

Asked by Judge Michael Cartlidge why she was carrying a knife, Finley's barrister, Mark Styles, said she believed a drug dealer lived locally, while there had also been a killing in that area of Horden, east Durham, not long before the incident, on November 17.

Asked if she still carries a knife, Mr Styles said he, "could not possibly comment".

Finley, 56, of Rogers Close, Horden, admitted unlawful wounding, but denied the more serious offence of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

Judge Cartlidge said: "I have no wish to put down the people of Horden, but what are we coming to when someone says they think like that?"

He added that he found it, "unlikely" that locality could be so dangerous.

Sentence was adjourned pending preparation of Probation Service and psychiatric reports.

Bailing Finley, on condition she does not visit Horden Football Club or enter Cotsford Lane Estate, he told her he was unable to, "predict the outcome".

But he added: "Clearly, this is very serious, and you simply should not be going about with a knife, even if you do have fears of living in Horden."

She must return for sentence in late June.

3:22pm Thursday 15th May 2008

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