A homeless man who stabbed his victim through the arm after he reacted angrily to his niece bringing him some booze and cigarettes has been locked up.

Craig Roberts was sleeping in a tent on wasteland near Middlesbrough Police when he launched the unprovoked attack on the man.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the 48-year-old plunged the blade completely through the forearm of his victim as he raised his arm to protect himself.

Tabitha Buck, prosecuting, said the victim bumped into the defendant’s niece after leaving the Mint nightclub in Middlesbrough town centre before walking the short distance to where Roberts was sleeping rough.

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She said: “At about 4am he was leaving the club and met a female who asked him if he wanted to come for drink with her after she dropped some cigarettes and alcohol off for her uncle.

“His tent was set up in a field near Middlesbrough police station, the defendant has come out of his tent in an aggressive manner.

“He turned his attention to the complainant before stabbing him with a knife – it has gone right through his forearm.”

The court heard how the man didn’t suffer any lasting damage as a result of the stabbing but would have a scar for the rest of his life.

The Northern Echo: Craig RobertsCraig Roberts (Image: Cleveland Police)

Roberts, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and possession of a bladed article following the stabbing on April 4 this year.

The judge heard how the defendant had 18 convictions for 28 offences, including ones for violence.

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Brian Russell, mitigating, said his client is hoping to get to the bottom of why he reacts in such an irrational and violent way to certain situations.

He added: “Clearly, he is a man who needs to change the way he reacts to incidents such when there wasn’t a great deal of provocation.”

Judge Timothy Stead sentenced Roberts to four years in custody with a three-year extension for the unprovoked attack due his history of impulsive violent behaviour.

“You used a knife to stab him, the blade went right through his left forearm,” he said. “Luckily, it appears that the underlying structures were not damaged.”