A CHRISTMAS Eve confrontation resulted in a man suffering serious hand injuries after making a grab at a knife held by an oncoming aggressor.

Durham Crown Court heard that the victim was visiting a house in Chester-le-Street, intending to see an ex-partner, at 9pm on December 24.

Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, told the court that his presence was not welcome and he was asked him to leave the premises, in Second Avenue.

“Effectively, he was thrown out, and a confrontation followed with the defendant outside,” said Mr Dryden.

Holding a knife to his side, Damon Davison approached the victim, who, fearing he was going to be attacked, tried to grab the handle.

“The knife was pulled back by the defendant causing a wound to both the complainant’s left and right hands.

“He fell to the ground, cut on both hands, and continued to be threatened.”

Mr Dryden said Davison urged the man to “say sorry”, or he would, “get it”, pointing the knife at his neck as he lay cowering on the ground fearing he would be killed.

The incident ended when the defendant fled the scene, but police found him hiding under a bed at a nearby house.

Mr Dryden said the injured man suffered three cuts to fingers on his left hand and a further cut to his right hand.

He underwent an operation, amid fears he may have suffered tendon damage to both hands.

A victim impact statement outlined that he now has reduced feeling and ability to grip in the affected fingers, leaving him unable to continue his work washing cars.

When arrested the defendant told police he had been drinking vodka that night as well as taking the former legal high ‘MCAT’.

Thirty-year-old Davison, of Front Street, Chester Moor, near Chester-le-Street, admitted unlawful wounding and possessing an offensive weapon.

Stephen Constantine, mitigating, said Davison considered his behaviour that night as, “completely out of character.”

Mr Constantine said Davison took the knife outside intending to defend himself, but claimed he did not thrust it forward.

He told the court the injured party made the grab for it, with “no intention” on the defendant’s part to stab the victim.

Mr Constantine said as a result of being remanded in custody, Davison has lost his employment, in London, and his accommodation.

But he added that while on remand Davison has engaged with the drug and alcohol team.

Jailing him for 20 months, Judge Simon Hickey told Davison he left the victim so terrified that he made the decision to try to grab the knife, resulting in the serious hand injuries.