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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/tyne/4269236.stm
A deaf pensioner stabbed a boy after a campaign of "torment and taunting" by a gang of hooligans, a court heard.
Newcastle Crown Court was told that in March Frank Morton, 66, from South Shields, snapped and stabbed the 14-year-old in the street.
At an earlier hearing he admitted a charge of unlawful wounding but denied the more serious offence of wounding with intent to cause serious harm.
He was granted bail, and will be sentenced on 11 October.
'Considerable harassment'
Morton, and his disabled wife, had complained to police about the gang, and just days before the stabbing, their son was beaten up outside the defendant's home, the court heard.
Prosecutor Robin Patton said: "The nature of the allegation here is that he has stabbed a juvenile twice in the street after suffering an uncontrollable amount of torment and taunting."
The prosecutor added it was not the Crown's case that the victim was involved in the campaign against the Mortons.
The deaf and mute pensioner watched proceedings with the help of a sign language interpreter.
Judge Beatrice Bolton told Morton: "It does appear to me that it would be wrong to sentence you today because the prosecution do not have the material which supports your case that you have suffered considerable harassment over a period of time.
"It is very important that the sentencing judge is left in no doubt as to what has happened to you."
A deaf pensioner stabbed a boy after a campaign of "torment and taunting" by a gang of hooligans, a court heard.
Newcastle Crown Court was told that in March Frank Morton, 66, from South Shields, snapped and stabbed the 14-year-old in the street.
At an earlier hearing he admitted a charge of unlawful wounding but denied the more serious offence of wounding with intent to cause serious harm.
He was granted bail, and will be sentenced on 11 October.
'Considerable harassment'
Morton, and his disabled wife, had complained to police about the gang, and just days before the stabbing, their son was beaten up outside the defendant's home, the court heard.
Prosecutor Robin Patton said: "The nature of the allegation here is that he has stabbed a juvenile twice in the street after suffering an uncontrollable amount of torment and taunting."
The prosecutor added it was not the Crown's case that the victim was involved in the campaign against the Mortons.
The deaf and mute pensioner watched proceedings with the help of a sign language interpreter.
Judge Beatrice Bolton told Morton: "It does appear to me that it would be wrong to sentence you today because the prosecution do not have the material which supports your case that you have suffered considerable harassment over a period of time.
"It is very important that the sentencing judge is left in no doubt as to what has happened to you."