A SOUTHAMPTON teenager who knifed another youth four times has been spared a prison sentence.

The judge said there were exceptional circumstances which meant he could impose a non-custodial sentence on Scott Clements, 18.

The judge, Recorder Michael Cullum, said the victim Sam Quinton had bullied Clements, who was 17 at the time of the incident, by the Itchen bridge in Woolston.

Clements, of Butts Road, Sholing, was acquitted of wounding with intent after a trial at Southampton Crown Court. He had admitted malicious wounding.

The judge sentenced Clements to an 18-month community punishment rehabilitation order, with 100 hours community service. He made no order for compensation.

Sentencing, the judge said: "This is a complicated case and something of a complicated trial. I want to explain why I'm not going to send you to custody today. I have given this a lot of thought. I have been agonising whether or not to send you to custody. No doubt you have been agonising as to whether I would.

"I accept the knife came from work and was a broken knife and that is why the blade was open.

"There was a history of bullying by the victim Sam Quinton and others.

"I accept you were vulnerable and bullied and had a reluctance to strike back to bullying. I accept you were not going looking for a fight. The evidence is that Sam walked up to you. You were initially in a fair fight with him, trying to get him off. You struck him a number of times and seriously. Immediately afterwards you were remorseful and panic stricken. You have never before been involved in violence.

"People who use a knife usually go to prison. The reason is knives can kill. The level of injury is a lottery. You caused a deflation of a lung. You used medium force which caused a small fracture to the scapula."

"In reality you could have no complaint if I sent you to custody for 12 months. This does not undermine the message that in general those who use knives go to prison. You are not a dangerous offender. I'm not satisfied there is a serious risk of causing harm."

After the case Mr Quinton denied that he had bullied Clements. The 17-year-old, who is looking for work, is undergoing counselling following the attack from which he still suffers back pain.

He said by not sending Clements to prison the court was sending out a message that carrying knives was acceptable.

"All the groups around here will carry knives around with them now because they know they can get away with it."

Mr Quinton's grandfather Brian Holbrook, 66, of Sholing, said the quick actions of paramedics saved his son's life.

"Not sending him (Clements) to prison gives children the right to carry knives. How many more kids on the street are going to suffer. I am very angry about it."