A teenager who accidentally slashed his friend with a craft knife when a play fight turned nasty has been given six months youth custody.

Luke Stadon, 16, and a group of his mates had been drinking heavily when he tussled with a lad, got angry and produced the small blade, Bristol Crown Court heard.

When Stadon, left, lunged forward he cut another lad's forehead causing a wound which had to be glued.

Stadon, of Elizabeth Crescent in Stoke Gifford, pleaded guilty to wounding and possessing an offensive weapon.

The Hon Mr Justice Royce, who lifted reporting restrictions after an application by the Post, told him The Lord Chief Justice has said knife crime has reached "epidemic proportions" and was a danger which must be stopped.

The Judge said: "This is a classic example of a case about which the public has very grave concerns."

Nicholas Fridd, prosecuting, said police were called to Lockleaze in the early hours of July 24 this year.

Mr Fridd said: "They came across a number of young men, all aged around 16.

"What appeared to have happened was that they had been drinking heavily and during the course of an altercation between this defendant and a friend they started play fighting and regrettably this deteriorated until the defendant was getting angry."

Stadon denied using a knife at first, claiming either jewellery or a finger nail caused the damage. Witnesses at the scene, however, all said they saw him produce a knife and another blade was found in his bedroom.

Matthew Comer, defending, said his client regretted what happened and was ashamed for doing something which lead to the loss of his friends.

The court heard since the incident Stadon's family had moved away from people who were a bad influence on him.