A MAN who repeatedly stabbed a neighbour was yesterday warned he faces prison.

Stephen Renwick, 40, who called at his victim's house in September 27 last year, lashed out several times with a sharp-bladed implement, which was never found.

Durham Crown Court heard that the 38-year-old householder, who armed himself with a crowbar in self-defence, was stabbed at least seven times.

Peter Schofield, prosecuting, said one blow punctured his left lung, causing a partial collapse.

The struggle moved into the victim's back garden, then both men fell over a fence into an adjoining garden.

Mr Schofield said: "It ended with the defendant saying: 'There, you have had your bit of punishment', before leaving the scene."

The victim managed to reach a friend's house, and an ambulance was called.

Renwick was also treated at hospital. He needed six stitches for a head wound, apparently caused by blows from the crowbar. Mr Schofield said: "This man turned up at the house with a knife at around 1am and, for no good reason, began attacking him at his back door."

When arrested, Renwick told police he had drunk nine double Bacardi and cokes, before going to his girlfriend's home and having a disagreement.

He left and went to the complainant's house, in Dorset Crescent, Moorside, Consett, to buy some cannabis.

But he claimed, on arrival, that he was hit first and he grabbed a wooden implement from the ground to use in self defence.

He told the court he could not remember what happened to the implement.

The victim denied selling drugs.

Renwick, of Dorset Crescent, denied wounding with intent, but was found 'guilty' on a unanimous jury verdict.

Recorder Ian Thorp adjourned sentence until next month, pending probation reports.

He remanded Renwick on conditional bail and said: "A prison sentence is virtually inevitable in this case."