A MAN responsible for sustained unprovoked violence, including a multiple stabbing, has no memory of the incident, a court heard.

Daniel Marc Baker was today (Tuesday August 19) jailed for four years and eight months, for what a judge described as, "a dreadful episode.”

Durham Crown Court heard 21-year-old Baker turned up at the flat of, “the friend of a friend”, in Willington, in an agitated mood, on June 29.

Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, told the court: “He was behaving strangely, making threats to set fire to the flat, and saying he would send people around to make trouble.”

Mr Dryden said the tenant “had enough” and asked him to leave, attempting to usher him from the premises.

But Baker took exception to this, taking him in a headlock and putting him to the floor.

Mr Dryden said Baker struck the tenant repeatedly and then began smashing items in the flat, including a coffee table, a television, and a computer game console, before grabbing a screwdriver which fell from the coffee table drawer.

“He began waving it around in a martial arts-style, and then, as if it was an ice pick, using it to stab the other man three times to the left hand side.

“In fear of his life, he ran to the next room and rang police, in an extremely distressed manner.”

While the call was being made, Baker turned on another man, who tried to intervene, throwing an ash tray at him and striking him several times with a broken chair leg.

Mr Dryden said Baker then left by appearing to jump from the first floor flat.

He was arrested nearby as police arrived, but had to be taken to hospital suffering several injuries himself from the fall.

The victim received hospital treatment for stab wounds to the left arm, back and shoulder, plus other injuries to the forearm and stomach.

Although he was discharged that night he had to return to hospital to undergo plastic surgery.

Mr Dryden said as a result of the damage he lost tenancy of the flat, in Chapel Street.

Baker, 21, of North Terrace, Willington, admitted wounding with intent, assault causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage.

Tom Mitchell, mitigating, said the defendant, who had taken valium, has no memory of the incident.

But he suffered a head injury and numerous cuts in the fall from the flat.

Jailing him, Judge Peter Kelson told Baker: “This was a dreadful episode.

“It was a sustained attack, a shocking and violent incident.”