A MAN who stabbed a dad-of-six outside the gates of a primary school is facing jail.

Barry Parkes pleaded guilty to attacking Steven Higginson outside North Walkden Primary School before his trial was due to start at Manchester Crown Court today.

Parkes, who is remanded in custody, was told by Judge Hilary Manley that it is "inevitable" he will be sent to prison.

The court heard how Parkes had suffered a fractured cheekbone in the incident on November 28 last year.

His basis of plea was that he only intended to use the knife after Mr Higginson had landed the blow on him.

The complainant has admitted hitting Parkes, but says he only did so after the defendant had tried to throw a punch at him.

The court heard that police have never found the knife because Natalie Lawton had disposed of it.

Lawton pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm at an earlier hearing on February 16.

Michael Johnson, defending Parkes, said: "The complainant accepts landing the first blow. He says the defendant took a swing at him and he then punched him.

"There can be no doubt that the defendant had a fractured cheekbone."

The court was told that Parkes does not have a lengthy criminal record and had never been in prison before carrying out the school stabbing.

Judge Manley said: "You will be sentenced along with your co-defendant Natalie Lawton on June 9 at 10am.

"In the meantime you will be remanded in custody.

"A custodial sentence is inevitable."

Parkes, aged 42, of Vestris Drive, Salford, who admits wounding with intent, and Lawton, aged 30, of Argyle Street, Walkden, will learn their fates on June 9.

At the time of the incident, The Bolton News reported how a manhunt was launched to find the attackers after Mr Higginson was stabbed in the back and chest at about 3.30pm, as children were leaving school.

Police forensic teams combed the scene in Whittle Drive deep into the evening.

The victim was picking up his children from the school when he was attacked in front of horrified children and parents, yards from the school gates, just after it closed.

A governor at the school described the attack as "pure evil".

Mr Higginson was taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary but was soon discharged.