A deaf pensioner who stabbed a schoolboy has been spared jail after a judge accepted he snapped after months of torment by local youths.

Frank Morton plunged a blade into the 14-year-old after leaving his home to confront three boys who were playing a ballgame against the side of his house.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how the incident was the climax of 18 months of misery for the 66-year-old and his family at the hands of local teenagers causing trouble.

For the past year-and-a-half, Mr Morton and his family had made repeated complaints to the police about anti-social behaviour in the area, and the court heard how Mr Morton's son Simon had been the victim of a violent attack.

Mr Morton admitted a charge of unlawful wounding and could have faced up to five years behind bars.

But Judge David Hodson told the father-of-two: "It is quite clear in my judgement that the repeated actions of that group caused you on March 24 to snap.

"I am quite satisfied that the offence is highly out of character and as a result of the direct and indirect activities of a number of young people outside your house over a significant period of time, probably in excess of 12 months."

The teenage victim, who received cuts to his chest and hand, had only moved into the area a few weeks before the stabbing and was not blamed for the previous disorder.

But on March 24, he was playing a game with two youths which involved the trio kicking a ball repeatedly against the side of Mr Morton's home.

This caused Mr Morton, who has a heart condition, to "snap" and lash out with the blade - leaving the youth with injuries which needed stitches.

Ailsa McDonald, prosecuting, told the court Mr Morton immediately contacted his son and told him to phone the police, who came to his home in Lake Avenue, South Shields, to arrest him.

Gavin Doig, mitigating, told the court how Mr Morton, who has been deaf and mute since he was two, has never been in trouble before and is highly respected by members of the deaf community. Mr Doig submitted references signed by more than 100 of his peers who were willing to sign their names to verify his good character.

Judge Hodson said a cusodial sentence could not be avoided to mark the seriousness of the use of a knife.

But the judge said the exceptional circumstances of the case meant the nine-month sentence could be suspended for two years.

Mr Morton will be brought back to court for the judge to decide the level of compensation he must pay the injured youth.