A YOUNG man has admitted stabbing his mother with a vegetable knife during a domestic row.

Michael Bowes, 22, is accused of stabbing Tracey McGrail following an argument over a games console at her home, in Quarrington Hill, near Durham, on Sunday, June 14.

Bowes was said to have threatened his mother and pushed her as she sat in a chair.

He then straddled her, pulled her head down, while shouting and swearing, before grabbing her round the neck, causing her to choke, as she struggled for breath.

Bowes desisted for a while before resuming the attack, during which he pulled her hair and bit her on the head.

He made threats to burn down the house and then approached his mother, holding the knife and sitting on her as she cowered in a chair.

She tried to text her brother to come for help and as a struggle developed, she felt a sharp pain in her back, in an area under the shoulder blade.

Blood began pouring down her back and Bowes apologised, before leaving the house, in Hawthorn Crescent.

An ambulance arrived and Ms McGrail was taken to hospital for treatment for a 2indeep stab wound, which required stitches, plus other injuries.

Bowes was arrested later that night and made admissions in interview.

Appearing for the first time in the case at Durham Crown Court yesterday, Bowes denied a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, but admitted unlawful wounding.

Stephanie Donington, prosecuting, said the pleas were “acceptable” to the Crown.

The court was told that Bowes has a previous conviction for assaulting his stepfather, “in a similar incident”, in 2006.

Martin Towers, for Bowes, asked for probation reports to be drawn up on his client, prior to sentence.

Judge John Evans remanded Bowes, of no fixed address, in custody to be brought back for sentence on July 15.