A FORMER soldier who knifed the father of his girlfriend's child during a scuffle was today starting a 12-month jail term.

Carl Hellawell, 22, who has no previous convictions, cried as he was led from the dock at Burnley Crown Court, where Judge Lesley Newton had described his behaviour as wholly unacceptable and very dangerous.

Sentencing, Judge Newton said she accepted victim William Poole started the fight and he had gone to sort Hellawell out.

He had pushed the defendant across a car but during the course of the fracas, Mr Poole suffered a wound to his back.

She added the defendant, of Alder Street, Rawtenstall, had earlier admitted affray and damage.

The court was told there had been difficulties with Mr Poole, former partner of the defendant's girlfriend, Sharon Maynall.

Last August, Hellawell and Miss Maynall went to a party at Mr Poole's home, the defendant had too much to drink, knew his behaviour was unacceptable and apologised to his girlfriend.

Hellawell became increasingly aggressive and abusive towards Miss Maynall, blocked her path out of the kitchen, grabbed her wrists and pushed her around the room.

He then followed her upstairs. People tried to restrain him and a fight broke out.

The defendant went on to smash the windows of Mr Poole's father's car and then returned to the property, the first time with a rounders bat and the second wielding a knife.

A fight broke out between Hellawell and Mr Poole at the vitim's instigation and the defendant was pushed across a car.

During the melee, Mr Poole was stabbed.

John Woodward, defending, said Hellawell was a decent young man who had come through difficulties in his life and shown maturity.

He had seen the complainant on a regular basis since the fracas, but there had been no repetition of such behaviour.