Online 'fallout' led to stabbing

A misunderstanding between two friends over an online message led to an 18-year-old man being slashed across the neck, Preston Crown Court has heard.

The youths fell out after one thought the other had sent an abusive message.

The pair were involved in a gang brawl on an estate in Preston, Lancashire, in May, where the youth believed to have sent the message stabbed another man.

The 17-year-old youth, pleaded guilty to wounding and was ordered to perform 100 hours of community service.

The court was told how the row arose after the defendant moved away from his home in Preston, Lancashire, but continued to exchange online messages of a "jocular fashion"

One such message was misconstrued by another friend of the defendant who was temporarily using his computer, defence lawyer Louise Whaites said.

You went beyond what was proper in order to defend yourself by using the knife but I accept that you were subjected to repeated punches Judge Anthony Russell QC

Ms Waites said: "This other person responded to one of those messages in an abusive manner.

"That caused a falling out between the two in that the childhood friend thought it was the defendant who had sent the message back."

Karl Berry, prosecuting, said the defendant was walking near his home on the afternoon of 26 May 2008 when he was spotted by the former friend who was with a gang of youths.

They approached the defendant and a scuffle developed in which punches were exchanged. In the melee the defendant pulled a lock knife out of his pocket, lashed out and wounded one of the gang.

The 18-year-old victim was taken to hospital where he needed two layers of stitches to a cut 1.6in (4cm) deep and 1.2in (3cm) long which stretched to just below his larynx.

'Lashed out'

Sentencing the youth, Judge Anthony Russell QC explained that offences of wounding which involved a knife would normally attract a term of imprisonment but said this was an "exceptional case".

He said: "There was an ongoing dispute between you and your friend, arising out of a misunderstanding that was not of your doing.

"I accept you genuinely believed you were in danger of being attacked by your former friend.

"You went beyond what was proper in order to defend yourself by using the knife but I accept that you were subjected to repeated punches.

"You were not the aggressor. You lashed out with the knife in order to deter the attackers and you did not intend to cause injury."