A TEENAGER who stabbed his girlfriend in the leg with a kitchen knife for no reason walked free from court yesterday.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had also punched the teenage girl and thrown a coffee table in her in an "horrific attack," Worcester Magistrates heard.

The pair, who had an on-off relationship, had argued on Friday, March 7 and at 9.30pm that day the youth arrived at the girl's house.

"He appeared to have been drinking," said Sally Hill prosecuting.

He attacked her, punching her in the face and threw a coffee table at her, Miss Hill told the court.

"She tried to pacify him and calm him down," she said.

"He went into the kitchen and got a knife from a block which the victim described as a long jagged black-handled knife."

The knife cut through the duvet the girl had wrapped around her and cut into her leg.

"The blade of the knife bent under the pressure when he stabbed her, which suggests some force," said Miss Hill.

"She said she could feel her right leg get wet and warm. That was the blood of course."

The youth broke off the attack, an ambulance was called, and he was arrested.

In a police interview, the youth admitted punching her and stamping on her head but had a mental block and could not recall the rest, Miss Hill told the court.

However, the girl withdrew her complaint saying she did not think it would be fair for him to go to prison and he needed to be with his family.

Anger

Nick Roberts defending said a custodial sentence would not solve the teenager's anger management, drinking, and education needs.

"In a detention centre I suspect he would be preyed upon and I suspect we wouldn't last five minutes, in that he is an ideal candidate to be picked on," he said.

Mr Roberts said the Worcestershire youth had trouble communicating because of his stammer.

"This frustration can make him lash out," he said.

The youth admitted the charges of assault and wounding at an earlier hearing.

Chairman of the bench, Linda Whitehead, said "this was a horrific attack" but magistrates decided not to impose a custodial sentence.

Instead, the youth will be given an intensive surveillance and supervision programme which includes a 30-day curfew and two years supervision by a youth offending team.

He was ordered to pay £50 towards costs.