A MAN who called the police after he thought he had stabbed an acquaintance over a £10 debt has asked a judge to jail him so he could take advantage of the prison education system.

George Durbin dialled 999 after he thought he had plunged a knife into the man.

But in reality the 23-year-old had not injured Ewen Williams during the late night skirmish – but still got his wish of some jail time.

Richard Thomas, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court the ‘rather bizarre’ case first came to light when the police received a call at about 11pm on Tuesday, February 9.

The caller reported a man had been stabbed in the Queens Park/Groundwell Road area of Swindon, he said. Officers were sent to the scene and saw Durbin.

The defendant told them: “I know why you want to talk to me, I have just stabbed someone”, saying the victim was a man called Ewen who owed him money.

He told officers he confronted the man who produced a knife and, after disarming him, he used it to stab him.

When police asked him to show them where it happened, Durbin led them to an area on Curtis Street, saying he threw the knife into the lake at Queens Park as he didn’t want any children to find it.

Mr Thomas said police inquiries led them to Ewen Williams, who told them a man he knew as Usif had loaned him a tenner about 18 months before.

They had been drinking in a pub when he borrowed the cash but had not seen him for a while and then avoided him as he didn’t have the money.

He said they had been at a friend’s house drinking that night and Usif had told him he wanted his money back.

After arguing over the money he said Usif suggested they go outside, which he declined, but later on he left to get a bus home.

As he was walking along the road he said he was grabbed from behind and saw his attacker brandishing a large kitchen knife, which he swung at him.

Mr Williams said he then laughed at his attacker saying he hadn’t stabbed him and then ran away.

Durbin, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to a charge of affray.

Chris Smyth, defending, said his client had no previous convictions, though received a caution in 2004 for possessing a bladed article.

He said his client had told him that he knew he had done wrong and was full of remorse for what had happened.

Having missed much of his secondary schooling, Durbin had been taking advantage of the education services in prison, having been remanded in custody for two weeks, he said.

Jailing him for 10 months, Judge Carol Hagen said: “This is an extremely unusual case; the circumstances are bizarre.

“What is undoubtedly to your credit is your comments to the police, your genuine remorse which I accept and your approach since being remanded in custody and your early guilty plea.

“I very much hope what Mr Smyth tells me is correct and you will continue to take advantage of the opportunities available in custody.”