A JUDGE told a man living near Ross-on-Wye that he was taking the very unusual step of not sending him directly to prison for wounding with a knife.

Judge David Matthews told Hereford Crown Court that he was taking the step because he accepted there were special mitigating circumstances in the case of Zamile Jamba, who is a resident at the Arches Guest House in Walford but originates from South Africa.

Jamba, aged 25, had been found guilty at an earlier hearing of the unlawful wounding of another man with a knife.

Nigel Fryer, defending, described his client as a man of good character with deep Christian beliefs who was deeply ashamed of what he had done.

"This was self-defence gone too far," said Nigel Fryer. "It was an isolated incident between two people who knew each other and not an act of random violence. A moment of madness that he deeply regrets."

He said the defendant was working in a factory in Ross and sent money to his family at home. He was involved in the local community and wanted to make a positive contribution.

Judge Matthews said wounding with a knife was a very serious offence and almost always resulted in the perpetrator going to jail. But in this case he had decided after serious consideration to impose a nine month prison sentence suspended for 12 months.

The defendant was also ordered to do 140 hours community service and pay costs of £750.