PAEDOPHILE Rodney Barlow has been jailed for three-and-a-half years after he stabbed a teenager shortly after being released from prison.

The 32-year-old former Honda worker used a small pocketknife to inflict three wounds on his teenage victim after his brother got involved in a drunken fracas.

Russell Maynard, 18, and a friend had been talking to two teenage girls.

Prosecutor Andrew Mac-Farlane, said the girls lived a few doors away and asked the boys back to meet one of the girl's fathers, Darren Barlow, who was the older brother of the defendant.

He said Darren Barlow was extremely drunk and there was a misunderstanding.

Darren Barlow then followed Russell, who had gone home, entered his house and was abusive to the boy's stepfather.

Darren's brother Rodney then arrived and along with Russell was trying to calm them down.

But then the two of them also started to fight.

Mr MacFarlane said Rodney Barlow produced a knife and said: 'Do you want this knife round your throat, because I'll do it'. They fought again and Barlow used the knife to stab Russell three times, causing two wounds to his chest and one to his left forearm, needing stitches. Barlow left the scene but was arrested soon after. He showed police where he dumped the knife in a drain and told them he was just trying to scare the teenager and only stabbed him because he wouldn't let him go.

Barlow, formerly of Buckhurst Crescent, Walcot but now of Davis House, Turl Street, admitted a charge of wounding with intent. He was jailed for a year with a two-year extended licence in May last year after admitting two counts of indecent assault and a third sex attack.

He had admitted having sex with a youngster shortly before the boy turned 16 but insisted it was consensual.

However he has been returned to prison after breaching the licence and will remain behind bars until December next year.

Mike Pulsford, defending, said that his client was trying to get his life back together.

Jailing him, Judge John McNaught said: "You understand that an offence like this with a knife is a serious offence. It carries a maximum of life in prison. You are already in custody and likely to stay there till the end of 2006. I will pass a concurrent sentence of three-and-a-half years.''

"You have got to spend about 21 months in custody. That may add a little bit to your release date in December 2006 but not much."

Jamie Hill