A man has walked free from court after stabbing a man who confronted him about bullying a girl.

Cameron Flounders caused a three-centimetre stab wound to the victim’s back after initially running away from him when the man rode his bike into the defendant.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the 20-year-old picked something up off the ground to stab the man when he challenged him about bullying his younger sister.

Jenny Haigh, prosecuting, said the trouble flared when the two men’s paths crossed on December 29, 2020.

She said the injured man was taken to hospital for treatment and his wound needed three sutures.

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Miss Haigh said the man ‘felt lucky’ he was not more seriously injured.

Flounders, of Windsor Street, Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding.

Defence barrister Stephen Constantine said his client was minding his own business when he was confronted by his victim, who through a number of punches at Flounders.

“When he was being chased, he feared he was going to be assaulted. He picked up something he saw while he was running away in case, he was going to be assaulted,” he added. “He gave an account of self-defence but now accepts his behaviour was over the top.”

Recorder Aisha Wadoodi told Flounders: “Whatever you did pick up at the time did cause a stab wound.

"Thankfully, mercifully, [the victim] has recovered from that.”

Flounders was given nine months prison which was suspended for 12 months, in addition to a 12-month community order with 150 hours unpaid work.

A five-year restraining order was also made protect the victim.

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