An Oxford teenager stabbed a love rival who sent text messages to his girlfriend -- then fled from police in a stolen car, a court heard.

Michael Jones, 19, of Littlefield, Littlemore, admitted stabbing Germaine Morris on July 7 last year, but denied attempted murder.

A jury at Oxford Crown Court convicted Jones of attempted murder after hearing he stabbed Mr Morris with a kitchen knife because he had exchanged text messages with his girlfriend Arron Pratley.

Jones was sentenced to 10 years in prison at a hearing on March 21.

During the trial, the jury was told that the two men arranged a meeting behind the Kassam Stadium where a fight broke out.

At an earlier hearing, Mr Morris - who needed hospital treatment for a punctured lung - said: "I asked him (Jones) what his problem was. He stepped forward and said 'you are my problem'.

"I said 'why?' He said 'because you have been texting my girlfriend'. Straight after that, that's when he stabbed me."

The day after the attack Jones, who was wearing an electronic tag, was approached by staff from the security company responsible for checking if he was obeying his curfew.

Neil Moore, prosecuting, said Jones threatened the staff with a different knife and stole their car.

Mr Moore said there was a short but dangerous police pursuit, during which time Jones drove in excess of 60mph in a 30mph limit.

On April 25, Jones admitted one count of robbery, one of driving while disqualified and one of driving dangerously.

He has previous convictions for vehicle taking and burglary, which date back to 1998.

John Simmons, defending, said his client had not used the knife on the security staff and had pleaded guilty to the offence.

Judge Julian Hall sentenced Jones to a further year in prison to run consecutively with the stabbing offence.

He said: "On this night you completely lost control of yourself. It seems to me that for a young man of your age, 11 years is long enough."