AN alcoholic who stabbed his friend in a drunken row walked free from court yesterday.
Faisel Abdou, 45, stabbed Brian Sultan with a kitchen knife after drinking wine and vodka at Mr Sultan's home in Frederick Street, South Shields, on November 27, 2002.
Newcastle Crown Court heard that an argument erupted over a pair of training shoes.
Mr Sultan's wound to the right side of his upper chest needed stitches but he suffered no internal injury.
Abdou initially claimed Mr Sultan, who is also an alcoholic, had fallen and injured himself on broken glass, but he later admitted wounding.
Defence barrister Caroline Goodwin said Abdou is seeking help with his alcoholism.
Judge Michael Taylor sentenced Abdou, of Birchington Avenue, South Shields, to 18 months imprisonment suspended for two years.
Abdou will also be subject to a suspended sentence supervision order.
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