A TEENAGER who stabbed a man on a night out has been warned that he is facing a lengthy custodial sentence.

Corey Reece Laver admitted wounding with intent and possession of a bladed article, namely a lock knife, in a public place when he appeared at Teesside Crown Court.

The incident took place near Macy Brown's bar, pictured below, on Grange Road in Darlington at around 2am on February 18 this year.

The Northern Echo:

And his early guilty plea was acknowledged by the judge Paul Watson QC who said it was unusual for someone so young to confess to such a serious charge.

Adam Walker, mitigating, said his client was eager to have the case resolved and had come to court in the expectation of being sent to custody.

Judge Paul Watson QC told Laver that his early admission 'will not go unnoticed' when he is sentenced for the offences next month.

He added: "I understand you are anxious and that you want it to be dealt with today but I'm going to need to know more about you at such a young age.

"You do know that custody is inevitable but I do need to know more about you."

The 18-year-old, of Fremantle Crescent, Middlesbrough, was released on bail while a pre-sentence report is carried out and will return to the same court on April 15 to learn his fate.