A MAN broke his back falling down a ravine as he fled the scene of a house party where he had stabbed a former friend in the leg, a court was told.

Sam Fitzpatrick, who plummeted about 25 ft at the River Derwent at Bridgehill, Consett, County Durham, still suffers bouts of persistent pain and has mobility problems.

Today (Thursday, July 25) the 22-year-old faced the legal consequences of his actions, when he was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court to 18 months in jail for the unlawful wounding of Christopher Nicholson on January 5 - leaving him with a wound to the leg and injuries to his head.

Passing sentence, Judge Paul Sloan QC said: “You suffered a serious back injury that night and have had to cope with the physical consequences ever since.

"That has altered your perspective somewhat and you have had plenty of time to reflect on your behaviour while on remand.

“It would seem you have come to realise just how important others are in your life – your family and in particular your girlfriend and daughter.”

Judge Sloan accepted Fitzpatrick was remorseful but said introducing a knife into a fight “could have had fatal consequences”.

Fitzpatrick of Tyne Avenue, Leadgate, near Consett, admitted the charge on the basis that he had gone to confront Mr Nicholson after being told he had been in a fight with two younger friends at the party– a claim Mr Nicholson in turn denied.

Alec Burns, prosecuting, said Fitzpatrick punched Mr Nicholson about the head causing minor lacerations with a saddle ring.

Fitzpatrick picked up a knife during a struggle and stabbed him in the thigh. An 18mm cut required three stitches.

The court was told Fitzpatrick had previous convictions for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, battery, affray and possessing an offensive weapon.

Julian Smith, mitigating, said Fitzpatrick had not brought the knife with him to the house.

He said, Fitzpatrick fractured his back and still had metal plates in place and hoped for a full recovery once they were removed.

But he still has difficulty with movement and cannot sit or stand for any period of time. He hopes to pursue an apprenticeship on release.

The prosecution did not pursue a charge of attempted murder and Judge Sloan returned a formal not guilty verdict.