A MAN who was stabbed by Mark Hobson has appeared in court charged with criminal damage.

William Brace, 32, admitted damaging a car and was handed a two-year conditional discharge by Selby magistrates.

Brace, of Laurel Close, Thorpe Willoughby, admitted smashing the windscreen of a Rover 400 belonging to Nigel Hamilton, on December 6 last year.

The court heard that Brace had used what was thought to be a metal bar to smash the windscreen after a fight between the pair.

Emma Pearce, prosecuting, said that in a statement to police, Mr Hamilton said there had been "tension" between his family and Brace, which had been the catalyst for the fight.

Mr Hamilton said that Brace had arrived at his house, in Thorpe Willoughby, in a Ford Escort car.

He jumped out of the car in an "aggressive state", before the brawl broke out.

Mr Hamilton then saw Brace walking away along nearby Laurel Close, holding what looked like a metal bar in his hand, before taking a swing at the Rover and smashing the windscreen.

Miss Pearce said Mr Hamilton was "aggrieved" to have been left with a £231 repair bill.

Sandra Keene, mitigating, urged magistrates to hand Brace a conditional discharge, saying he was not in a position to pay compensation.

She said Brace's partner had said in a statement that Mr Hamilton's behaviour had also been "very threatening".

Presiding magistrate Joan Visick said: "We are not going to order any compensation because you have got no means to pay."

Brace was then taken back to the cells, where he is on remand for unrelated issues.

In 2002, Brace was stabbed five times by Mark Hobson in front of horrified shoppers, in Gowthorpe, Selby, and underwent emergency surgery.

Hobson was given a two-year probation order and 100 hours community service.

Updated: 10:54 Thursday, July 29, 2004