Judge Michael Cartlidge warned 20-year-old James Parker that he is facing a jail term after being found guilty of trying to rob a convenience store brandishing a 12-inch knife.

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Just hours after hearing a jury deliver a guilty verdict to Parker, Judge Cartlidge heard how a middle-aged woman attacked a neighbour with a knife after a row over youngsters playing football.



Diane Finley, 56, admitted wounding when she appeared at Durham Crown Court but the stunned judge expressed amazement at her reasons for carrying the kitchen knife.

Judge Michael Cartlidge asked Mark Styles, defending, why Finley was carrying a knife if she did not intend to cause someone serious harm.

Mr Styles replied: "She took the knife with her from the house because of the nature of the locality in which she lives.

"In her police interview, she speaks of drugs dealers and others hanging around, and there had recently been a murder nearby."

Judge Cartlidge asked: "Does she still go out with a knife?"

"I couldn't possibly comment," replied Mr Styles.

The judge added: "One hears of a knife murder in Oxford Street in London, and now we have a woman of middle years saying she is fearful of taking to the streets of Horden without a knife. I've no wish to put down the people of Horden, but what are we coming to when someone says they think like that?

"I must say I find it unlikely the locality could be that dangerous."
He told Finley: "This is clearly a very serious offence and you simply should not be going about with a knife, even if you do have fears of living Horden."

Finley, of Rodgers Close, Horden, admitted unlawful wounding on November 17 last year but denied the more serious charge of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm. She will be sentenced on June 27.

Parker, of Station Road, Easington Colliery, will also be sentenced next month but was told by Judge Cartlidge that a custodial sentence was "inevitable".