TWO men and a dog were stabbed after violence erupted over a woman, a court heard.

Lawrence Collington lashed out with a flick knife at Matthew Carnan-Wood and his friend.

A Rottweiler called Trigger was knifed in the neck and body as it bit Collington on the bottom and arm.

The incident started after Mr Carnan-Wood sent text messages to Sarah Wootton, Collington's girlfriend, Nottingham Crown Court was told. He went to visit her at a flat in Sheridan Court, Stapleford, after he had been out drinking.

Collington, who had been in bed with Miss Wootton, got up and answered the door.

"He began punching Mr Carnan-Wood four or five times," said Stephen Taylor, prosecuting.

Mr Carnan-Wood then went down to friend Lee Rigley's flat below.

"Lawrence Collington went back inside his girlfriend's flat and asked his girlfriend what this man was doing coming to the flat at 1.30am," add Mr Taylor.

Collington said he was going to kill Mr Carnan-Wood and went downstairs to Rigley's place, where he ended up punching them both.

Collington claimed Mr Carnan-Wood did not want to speak to him and set the dog on him. Neither of the men had realised Collington had a knife, which he had with him to finish off fitting a carpet in his girlfriend's flat.

Mr Carnan-Wood suffered a deep stab wound to his leg and nerve damage. He now uses crutches and wears a brace on his leg. Mr Rigley had stab wounds in his abdomen, back and his cheek.

The court heard how he realised he could have been killed in the attack, which had left him wary of people in general.

Collington, 27, of Bedford Way, Corporation Road, Scunthorpe, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm and unlawful wounding. A charge of "damaging property", which related to Trigger, was left to lie on file.

Judge John Milmo QC gave him two years in prison, of which he will serve half.

He said: "You told your girlfriend you were going to kill him. I fully accept you had no intentions of killing, but you were not going on a peacekeeping mission."

Harry Bowyer, in mitigation, said his client was plainly attacked by the dog.

"It's an unusual situation. There's an element of provocation and self-defence, although the defence accepts he went far too far."