A MOTHER has told a jury how she battled to save her dying son after his throat was cut in a late-night attack on his doorstep.

Denise Beddow stemmed the flow of blood from the gaping wound with tea towels until neighbours came to help.

Her son Craig Beddow, 23, lost 27 pints of transfused blood while doctors spent four hours stemming the flow.

Teesside Crown Court heard how Mr Beddow's jugular vein was severed, cartoid artery exposed, vocal cord cut and was given the last rites by a hospital chaplain. He was on a ventilator for four days.

The victim has given evidence against neighbour Paul Ryan, who is accused of his attempted murder on the Seaton Lane estate in Hartlepool on July 16, last year.

He told the court he had gone to bring his bike into his house in Jutland Road and Mr Ryan was standing near his back door, about two feet away, and then attacked him.

"There was blood squirting everywhere and I shouted to my mother 'mam, Paul's slashed me'.

"The next thing I remember is waking up in hospital."

Mrs Beddow, who gave evidence yesterday, told the jury how neighbour Kayla Jukes heard screams after she discovered her son in their utility room.

"I was frantic," she said. "Hysterical. He was bleeding to death. He was dying in front of me. I needed somebody there.

"I told her just to look after Craig while I went to get my mam. I said 'don't let that go from his neck and don't look' because I had seen it and it was bad. I didn't want anyone else to see it."

In a statement, University Hospital of Hartlepool consultant Joan Clancey said the gaping wound - the size of her hand - was consistent with an attempted beheading.

Mr Ryan, 37, of Seaton Lane, Hartlepool, denies attempted murder and his defence claims Mr Beddow is either mistaken about the identity of his attacker or he is lying because of a family dispute.

The prosecution said Mr Ryan wanted revenge for a burglary at his home in May last year and blamed Mr Beddow.

The court heard that Mr Ryan was cautioned by police for attacking Mr Beddow with a pool cue after the burglary in May.

The defence is expected to start its case today.