A MAN who stabbed his best friend following a drink and drugs binge has been jailed after threatening to 'carve him up'.

Daniel Devon plunged the kitchen knife into his friend's arm before repeatedly stabbing him in his chest after an argument spiralled out of control following a party in May last year.

The 31-year-old left his friend with permanent nerve damage and visible scars to his chest and rear of his head – leaving him feeling self-conscious, Teesside Crown Court heard.

In a victim impact statement, the man said: “Although I have moved on with my life I still think about what happened and how different it could have ended.

“I’m not ashamed to say that I have struggled with my mental health but since this incident I feel like I am starting to get my life back on track.”

But he said he held no grudge against his former best friend and hoped he gets the help he needs to deal with his mental health issues.

Martin Scarborough, in mitigation, said his client had made progress with his mental health and had tackled some of his substance issues while in prison on remand.

He said Mr Devon is very lightly convicted and has no relevant convictions for violence on his criminal record.

During his trial late last year, Devon claimed he had acted in self-defence and said the victim had been aggressive towards him in May last year when the violence erupted.

The defendant was cleared of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm but found guilty of wounding without intent.

Previously, the court had heard how the victim said he felt hurt after Devon accused him of lying and the row continued in a taxi back to Devon’s home at Fletcher Walk, Hartlepool.

Devon was jailed for 21 months by Judge Stephen Ashurst.

Passing sentence, he said he was satisfied the drink and drugs had affected Devon’s perception of events and his behaviour.

“I’m quite satisfied that the violence which led to his injuries followed a period when both of you had been drinking and taking drugs,” he said.

“I can conclude that the drugs you had taken did affect your perception of events and your subsequent behaviour, which I am satisfied was quite out of character.”

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