A MAN who stabbed his neighbour to death after a row over lost keys was jailed for life yesterday.

Mark Gorringe, 21, and Kenneth Scott had a row in the street after the pensioner lost his keys.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that Gorringe brooded over the argument in his upstairs flat before he confronted his neighbour, who lived downstairs, and stabbed him five times with a kitchen knife.

Former builder Mr Scott, 66, died almost instantly after one of the blows pentrated his breastbone and sank deep into his heart.

Gorringe pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment by Judge John Milford, who called him "a danger to the public".

On the day of the attack, the court heard how Mr Scott knocked on Gorringe's door in Gray Road, Hendon, Sunderland, after he lost his keys, and the pair had a row.

Mr Scott left and went to a pub, but returned later.

The court heard there was another argument with Gorringe because Mr Scott was concerned about being unable to get into his house.

The court heard that in the early hours, Gorringe wrapped a scarf around his mouth and nose, grabbed a kitchen knife and went downstairs.

Mr Scott, fearing a confrontation, armed himself with a pair of scissors and opened the door.

Gorringe lunged at him, stabbed him five times and then fled to his mother's house, where he confessed to the killing.

Paramedics were called to the flats by Gorringe, an alcoholic, a number of hours later, where they found Mr Scott dead.

David Robson QC, in mitigation, said: "He is filled with remorse now for what he has done."