A MAN who stabbed a neighbour following a row over stolen food and cigarettes has been jailed.

Michael Twamley, 36, was locked up for 12 months yesterday after he pleaded guilty to wounding former friend Kevin Mount last October.

Twamley's partner, Julie Scales, was given a two-year community rehabilitation order.

She admitted perverting the course of justice by hiding the kitchen knife from police in the pocket of a coat.

Teesside Crown Court was told how Mr Mount had visited the couple in Southfield Road, Middlebrough, to borrow some cigarettes on October 26, but was chased by Twamley.

The two men later had a fight in the street when Mr Mount was seen coming out of a telephone box.

Twamley fled to his home when the police were called out.

Graeme Gaston, prosecuting, said Mr Mount took police to the house and when they got there and pushed the door open, Twamley lunged at his victim and caused a 1cm cut to the side of his chest.

Twamley's barrister, Caroline Goodwin, said he had been cooking at the time and forgot he had the knife in his hand when he went to the door of his home.

Ms Goodwin accepted that a pre-sentence report written by a probation officer made "dim and grim reading" but she argued against the recommendation of prison.

But Judge Les Spittle told Twamley: "Those who use knives and cause injury can only recognise they will face an immediate custodial sentence."

The judge told Scales, 30, of Marton Road, Middlesbrough: "You are not a wicked person.

"I do not believe what you did was motivated in a desire to thwart justice, but it could have that effect.

"I think you acted out of panic without realising the seriousness of what you were doing."

Scales' barrister, Deborah Sherwin, who described her client as of limited intellectual abilities, said Scales had helped police throughout their investigation and had been handed the knife to hide by a third party who had not been prosecuted.

Mr Gaston said the original altercation had been the result of Twamley believing Mr Mount had stolen some food from their fridge on an earlier visit.