A son has been given probation for stabbing his father as he lay sleeping after a plea from the victim for leniency.

Dennis Edwards woke up at his home in Chestnut Way, Brightlingsea, to find superficial wounds to his neck and chest.

And a court heard when he asked his son, Daniel, what had happened he replied: "It's the year 2000 and I decided to stab you."

Daniel Edwards was arrested by police later in the phone box from where he called an ambulance, Chelmsford Crown Court heard. He told officers he did not know why he had done it.

Edwards, 20, of Chrismond Way, Great Tey, admitted unlawfully wounding his father when he appeared in court and, after reports were submitted to the judge, was put on probation for three years.

But he was warned by Judge Brian Watling QC he would be locked up if he was in trouble again.

Wayne Cranston-Morris, mitigating, handed a letter in to the judge from Edwards's father pleading with Judge Watling not to jail his son.

It read: "I feel his actions were a cry for help and attention, rather than a vicious act. I miss him terribly. I bear no malice towards him."

Samantha Leigh, prosecuting, told the court Mr Edwards woke up in the early hours of January 5 this year, looked in a mirror and saw blood. He asked his son what was going on and Edwards told him it was because it was the year 2000.

Edwards then made a 999 call to the ambulance service and described "clearly and calmly" what he had done, Miss Leigh said.

The call was traced to a phone box near Brightlingsea police station. When officers arrived, Edwards told them where he had dropped the 4in kitchen knife he had used on his father, Miss Leigh added.

Wayne Cranston-Morris, mitigating, said Edwards could not understand why he had stabbed his father.

"There was no serious attempt to cause really serious harm to his father. It was clearly a cry for help," Mr Cranston-Morris said.

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