Man jailed for stabbing after cricket argument

Christopher Spurs was found guilty of wounding without intent

A man who stabbed his friend after a drunken argument over the rules of cricket has been jailed for two and a half years.

Christopher Spurs, 27 and from Sunderland, stabbed the man in the chest with a large kitchen knife in April 2023, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Spurs had claimed he acted in self defence but was found guilty by jurors of wounding without intent, although was cleared of the more serious charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

His victim suffered a collapsed lung and was left with asthma, which caused him to leave his work as a prison officer, the court heard.

Judge Robert Spragg said Spurs had known the man for about 12 years after they met at a cricket club, with the victim becoming like a "father figure" or "older brother" to Spurs.

The judge said the victim helped Spurs after the defendant's mother died in 2020, and two years later invited him to live with him in Sunderland.

Large carving knife

On 13 April 2023, the men were drinking at their home when Spurs became "extremely drunk" and "argumentative" and had a go at the victim "for no good reason", the judge said.

The arguments began over a game of cards, the rules of cricket and TV gameshow Who Wants to Be A Millionaire?, the court heard.

Spurs then became even more heated when he accused the man of not helping him when his mother died and picked up a large carving knife, the court heard.

The man struck Spurs twice to get him to drop the blade, but Spurs plunged it once into the victim's chest, causing blood to pour out, the court heard.

The man tried to call for an ambulance but Spurs grabbed his phone, which Judge Spragg said was to "prevent [him] from getting into trouble".

The victim was in hospital for five days with a collapsed lung, was left with asthma and had lost his interest in cricket, the court heard.

A restraining order banning Spurs, of Brandling Street in Roker, from contacting the man for five years was also made.