A TEENAGER slashed a fellow partygoer across the face with a kitchen knife at a house celebration to mark a girl’s 16th birthday.

The victim was said to have been sitting on a lounge seat offering no threat when defendant Jordan Lee Boyle went to the kitchen of the house in Stanley to grab the bread knife, in the early hours of February 17.

Durham Crown Court heard he initially placed it under the settee, then went back to the kitchen, came back empty-handed, but then took the bread knife from beneath the sofa and approached the victim, saying: “Come on”.

Chris Baker, prosecuting, said Boyle, 19, then slashed the other teenager twice across the face.

The victim immediately ran to the bathroom to try to stem the flow of blood, while Boyle told others present to explain it to anyone inquiring as a dog attack.

He also went told the victim not to “grass on him” and left, disposing of the knife.

The victim went to hospital for treatment for the two slash wounds, one deeper than the other, and remains scarred, more than seven months since the attack.

But the court heard he has also suffered psychological harm, turning to alcohol and substance misuse, flying off the handle with family members and has not been able to fulfil his ambition of becoming a soldier.

Mr Baker said Boyle was arrested the following day and told police he had been in a verbal altercation with the complainant and another male, at the party.

He claimed he tried to calm the situation but the other youth brandished a knife, so he went to the kitchen to arm himself in self-defence.

But, at a plea hearing, Boyle, of Rydal Avenue, Stanley, admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Mr Baker said the victim and two friends were from the Kenton area of Newcastle and were invited to the party as one was the cousin of the girl celebrating her birthday.

Dan Cordey, mitigating, pointed out that although Boyle has committed previous offences of violence going back to his juvenile days, he has never used a knife and did not go to the party armed that night.

He told the court it became known to others present that at least one, and possibly two of the trio from Kenton had taken knives with them, which a partygoer was told was because they were going to Stanley.

Mr Cordey added that while on remand in Durham Prison, Boyle has shown signs of maturing, having attended courses to address substance misuse, as well as educational and vocational classes, and has expressed remorse for his actions that night.

Deputy Circuit Judge Paul Worsley QC adjourned sentence previously for preparation of psychiatric and Probation Service reports on Boyle.

He agreed with the findings of the psychiatrist that Boyle should not, yet, be treated as posing a significant risk of causing serious harm, in future.

Imposing a ten-and-a-half year prison sentence, he also made Boyle subject of a restraining order prohibiting him from approaching or trying to contact the victim, “until further order”.