An asylum seeker was jailed for 13 months today (Friday) for stabbing a male in the face with a knife. Omar Arar, 20, of Graymount Crescent in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, had previously pleaded guilty to a single charge of wounding. Belfast Crown Court heard that on April 4, 2023, Libyan national Arar and his victim were known to each other at the time of the stabbing. Prosecution barrister Mark O'Hara said the victim was with three friends in the area of Rugby Road in south Belfast around 7 pm. "They came across the defendant who was with another male. An altercation took place between the defendant and the victim. "This defendant took possession of a knife which had been deposited on the ground and caused a wound to the victim's face. "He struck the victim once to the right side of his face causing the wound. He then ran away towards Fitzroy Avenue and was chased by the victim's friends.'' The court was told that the knife was not brought to the scene by either the defendant or the victim. "The victim was bleeding profusely from the wound to his face and was transported by ambulance to the Ulster Hospital,'' added Mr O'Hara. In hospital, he was treated for the wound which extended from his ear to the right corner of his mouth and onto his upper lip. He also received treatment at the hospital's Plastic Surgery Trauma Clinic to help the wound close. The court was told that the wound has healed "but it is still clearly visible''. In a statement to the court, the victim said the stabbing had deeply affected him "causing him sleepless nights and loss of appetite''. He added he had concerns about his appearance given the scarring he has been left with and the psychological impact of this injury on him. During police interviews, the defendant denied there had been an altercation between him and the victim. Judge Sandra Crawford said: "The victim has been left with extensive permanent facial scarring and there can be no doubt that this is a case of a high level of harm.'' The judge added: "The use of a knife, a highly dangerous weapon, represents a significant aggravating factor in this offending.'' Passing the 26 month sentence, Judge Crawford said Arar would be spend a further 13 months on supervised licence on his release from prison. A prosecution application for the destruction of the knife was granted by the court. For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.