A “MANIAC” who stabbed his former probation officer’s son only hours after being freed from jail was last night back behind bars – starting a five-and-a-half-year sentence.

James Garbutt spent his prison release grant on drink and drugs before knifing Adam Turner in his car outside a house in Port Clarence, near Stockton, last summer.

Mr Turner later described his attacker as “acting like a maniac” and a witness said Garbutt was “strutting around like a hero” after stabbing the 29-year-old in the shoulder.

Garbutt was arrested, but released on bail after being questioned – and six months later was involved in another act of extreme violence at his local pub on New Year’s Eve.

He was part of a gang challenged by manager Kevin Crosby and son-inlaw Stewart Nosworthy after they were seen carrying off crates of drink from the cellar of the Station Hotel. Garbutt was detained by Mr Nosworthy, 29, but other members of the group freed him and while they grappled with the have-a-go-hero, he received repeated blows to the head.

Mr Nosworthy suffered a gaping wound to the top of his head as well as cuts to his cheek, while Mr Crosby, 52, was stabbed in the back with what is thought to have been a screwdriver.

Garbutt, 25, of Sycamore Terrace, Port Clarence, admitted two charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, common assault and handling stolen goods.

Teesside Crown Court was told that he blamed Mr Turner’s mother – who was his offender manager for a year, three years ago – for him having his children taken off him.

Ian Bradshaw, mitigating, told Judge Tony Briggs that Garbutt accepted no one but himself was to blame, and claimed the attack was prompted by nasty remarks made earlier by Mr Turner.

He said Garbutt left Holme House Prison, in Stockton, on the morning of July 10 with his grant, got a taxi for the two-mile journey to his home, smoked heroin and drank vodka and cider.

Of the December 31 offence, Mr Bradshaw said Garbutt and his gang – including his mother and girlfriend – were caught on CCTV.

Judge Briggs described the knifing of Mr Turner as “an extremely dangerous attack” and said it was fortunate that more serious injuries were not caused to any of his victims.