A JAILBIRD frogmarched a man through a town centre at knifepoint to find some money just hours after being released from prison, a court was told.

Jason Davies assaulted his victim and threatened to stab him through the heart after a drink and drugs binge at a house in Stockton.

Teesside Crown Court heard how a group of friends ran out of money after spending it on getting intoxicated in August last year.

Davies is said to have given his prison discharge grant of £40 to his victim so he could buy more alcohol and heroin for them.

In the early hours of the next day, after leaving the party, 34-year-old Davies returned and demanded his money back, the court heard.

The victim was struck over the head, pulled out of the house by his clothes and led half-a-mile through the town centre.

Jobless housing worker Davies warned him: "I'm going to stab you in the heart. You better have some more money, or I'll stab you."

When the terrified man eventually broke free and escaped, Davies hunted for another victim and snatched a purse from a young woman.

Prosecutor Emma Atkinson told the court that CCTV pictures showed Davies holding his victim with one hand and a knife in the other.

Mike Bosomworth, mitigating, said: "The mere fact he borrowed forty quid does not justify the extreme measures the defendant took."

Davies, of Hartburn Road, Stockton, admitted charges of kidnap and having a bladed article, and was locked up for three years.

Judge Howard Crowson said: "Whether you loaned him the money or not doesn't seem too important. He was taken truly at knifepoint."

The court heard how Davies has a record with 103 offences, but seemed to turn around his life after a four-year burglary sentence.

Mr Bosomworth said he got married, had a child and worked for a housing association for seven years – until tragedy struck.

"As he puts it, he was a normal man," said the barrister. "He had a house, a mortgage, a car, a job and a happy family life.

"Regrettably, his younger brother died and rather than turning to his wife to deal with that grief, he turned to drugs."