A YORK man left his best friend permanently scarred when he stabbed him four or five times in a nightclub fight over "something or nothing", a court heard.

Craig Oliver, 27, plunged a lock knife into the face and body of Christopher Routledge at Toffs Nightclub shortly before closing on Friday, June 22, said Richard Scott, prosecuting at York Crown Court.

Door staff ended the fight by pulling Oliver off his victim as he lay on top of Mr Routledge near the dance floor. The attacker fled down Micklegate.

The court heard the pair had been drinking in various pubs during the evening and had been on amicable terms. They had known each other for a long time and there was no hint of the trouble to come.

Oliver told police he always carried a knife since he himself was stabbed in 1996.

Oliver, of Seventh Avenue, Tang Hall, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and carrying an offensive weapon.

Judge Peter Charlesworth described the knife as "like a dagger" adding that it was a "vicious weapon".

He jailed Oliver for three years and nine months.

He told Oliver: "You got into a fight, albeit it was something or nothing to begin with, with your own friend."

The judge added: "I have every reason to believe he (Mr Routledge) will bear the scars for the rest of his life."

Mr Scott said that Mr Routledge suffered cuts above and below his right eye, that required four and six stitches, and other wounds to his left shoulder and abdominal wall.

He also had to undergo an operation under general anaesthetic while doctors checked that he had not received serious internal injuries.

Paul Williams, mitigating, said that Oliver was bitterly sorry for what he had done and the friendship he had lost. He had no idea why the fight began.

He used the knife because he panicked and had no intention when he entered the nightclub of causing the injury.

Updated: 11:00 Wednesday, December 19, 2001