A row at a family funeral led to Lee Moore slashing his brother-in-law's face with a knife, a court heard.

Victim Stuart Hodgson had 29 stitches put in the wound and will be scarred for life. Yet 32-year-old Moore walked free from court after a judge showed him mercy.

Moore, of Falcon Way, Shoebury, pleaded guilty to unlawfully wounding Mr Hodgson. Prosecutor Gelaga King told Basildon Crown Court that heavy drinker Moore upset mourners at the funeral in February last year.

Mr King said the dispute resulted in Moore threatening to cut his brother-in-law but it was more that two months later that he turned up at his home.

The first punch was thrown by Mr Hodgson who knocked Moore to the ground. As he went to pick him up the defendant got the knife from his back pocket. Mr King added that when questioned by police Moore stated that he only went to the victim's home to talk.

He armed himself with the knife because Mr Hodgson was a bigger man and he felt vulnerable.

Moore's barrister, Christopher Paxton, described the incident as "appalling" but claimed the two men had since patched up there differences.

Mr Paxton said Mr Hodgson had even penned a letter which showed that he had forgiven Moore and the family was anxious to get matters "back on track".

He said despite the trouble Moore was still in a good relationship with his wife and she was expecting his second child.

Mr Paxton claimed the stabbing has devastated Moore, who he had spent four-and-half months in Runwell psychiatric hospital, Wickford, and was moving from the area to start a new life.

Moore wept in the dock as judge Michael Yelton said there were exceptional circumstances in his case which called for leniency. He placed a 12 months prison sentence on the defendant, suspended for 12 months. Moore was also ordered to pay £700 court costs.

Published Tuesday, April 9, 2002