A drinking binge ended with a teenager slashing her boyfriend across the throat with a shard of broken glass.

Durham Crown Court heard that the man ran from the couple's flat with blood pouring from the injury.

The 25-year-old victim was tended to at a neighbour's flat, while an ambulance and the police were called.

Mark Styles, prosecuting, said that despite initial fears it caused only superficial injuries, which were dealt with by stitches that were removed within a week.

When police arrived at the premises, in Mackay's Mews, Stanley, County Durham, the man's partner at the time, Abigail Pooley, had left the scene. She was traced to her father's address where she was still very drunk.

Mr Styles said there was a history to the case and the victim was himself in custody awaiting prosecution for alleged assault and arson, said to have been committed since the incident, in April.

But Mr Styles said the man always claimed he cut himself shaving and did not want Pooley to be prosecuted.

Nineteen-year-old Pooley, now of The Grange, Stanley, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm, having initially been facing the more serious offence of wounding with intent.

Nick Cartmell, mitigating, said the incident took place after a lengthy session in which the couple were drinking cider and strong lager.

Judge John Walford said: "This young woman has had to put up with a multiplicity of horrific events and happily, at last, is beginning to come to terms with events."

He said, given the background, he could avoid giving her a custodial sentence.

Judge Walford imposed a three-year community rehabilitation order, which will involve intense supervision from the probation service.

He told Pooley: "I hope it's the start of much better things for you."