A CHILDREN’S worker was hunted down and stabbed by a revengeful teenager.

Knife-wielding Nathan Prescott, 19, targeted Liver-pool City Council employee William Cleator due to his involvement in helping remove several young children from a Liverpool family.

Prescott was given a nine- year sentence at a Young Offenders’ Institute.

Liverpool Crown Court heard Prescott had tracked down Mr Cleator following his involvement in a court hearing surrounding the family, who cannot be named.

Prescott confronted Mr Cleator during his regular early morning dog walk and threatened him with the help of a gun-wielding pal.

Mr Cleator was only saved from serious injury by his large Japanese Akita dog, who leapt to his defence.

Judge Adrian Lyon said: “You went there in companion with a friend who was in possession of a gun, or what would appear to have been a gun.” The judge told Prescott it was only his young age and his previous good character that spared him a sentence in double figures.

Prescott told Mr Cleator the attack was “a message” from the family, before the pair fled on a yellow sports motorbike.

It was only as he walked away from the incident that Mr Cleator realised he had been stabbed in the shoulder.

He later picked Prescott, of Delamore Street, Kirkdale, out of an identity parade.

Prescott denied wounding with intent.

The court heard former ADHD-sufferer Prescott, who had many supporters in the public gallery, still maintained his innocence.