A TEENAGER who made drunken threats to stab a fellow resident at a YMCA hostel said he won’t spurn a chance offered by a judge.

Kevin Hetherington responded to Judge Jonathan Carroll’s decision to defer sentencing him for four months, enabling him to be released from custody.

Judge Carroll said if the 18-year-old defendant stays out of trouble he will receive a suspended sentence on his return to Durham Crown Court on January 6, but if he re-offends he will be jailed.

Hetherington was before the court, via video link from the nearby prison, having admitted common assault and making threats to kill.

It related to an incident in which he threatened to stab another resident at the YMCA in Chester-le-Street, having already assaulted him, on August 24, at 8pm.

He apologised to the court and said he had little recollection of the incident due to the amount he had drunk.

Judge Carroll told him: “Like so many young men, you get drink inside you and you misbehave. You know you have to control that.”

Telling him to face up to his responsibilities as a young father, the judge added: “I am giving you this chance. Stay out of trouble and it will be suspended sentence.

“Get into any bother, you will have broken the deal and I will send you to prison.”

Hetherington thanked the judge and replied: “I won’t let you down, sir.”