A TEENAGER who stabbed a 46-year-old Lye man in the side with a knife has been spared an immediate custodial sentence.

Jolean Gordon attacked Phillip Barrett after an argument in Crabbe Street, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

Judge Michael Challinor told the 18-year-old: "It is fortunate the injury caused was not as serious as it could have been."

He said Gordon had a number of previous convictions for offences involving violence, robbery and racially aggravated common assault.

But he said it was clear he had "perceived provocation" in the incident involving Mr Barrett, "You need your liberty subject to supervision and hopefully that will steer you away from further trouble in the future," added the judge.

"The time you have spent in custody has cleared your drug addiction.

"Now it is important you stay out of trouble. If you don't you will go to jail."

Gordon, of Yateley Crescent, Great Barr, who works for Birmingham City Council delivering leaflets, had been convicted of wounding Mr Barrett.

He was given 12 months detention, suspended for 18 months and also placed on supervision by the judge for 18 months.

The judge told him: "There was dispute, you took a knife and you stabbed him in the side. But he has made a full recovery from his injury."