A young woman was seriously injured in the latest in a spate of New Year stabbings.

Police found the 19-year-old with puncture wounds to her neck after they were called to flats in Lennox Street, Kemp Town, Brighton, at 7.35am on Saturday.

She is in a stable condition after emergency surgery at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton.

A 29-year-old local man is in custody being questioned on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm.

Detective Sergeant Steve Tattersall, who is leading the investigation, said he could not disclose whether a knife had been used in the attack.

He said: “The man was arrested at the scene. The couple had been in a relationship, but were not at the time.”

Neighbours raised the alarm after hearing a disturbance at the property, the victim’s home address. Police conducted door-todoor inquiries and have spoken to the woman’s family and friends.

It was the second stabbing of 2009. Teenager Zak Flavin was knifed three times in the stomach in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

The 16-year-old was attacked by a group of boys in The Avenue, Bevendean, at about 2.10am.

A 17-year-old boy and a 15-yearold boy were later arrested.

The latest attack comes less than a week after the death of Stuart Slade, 35, who was stabbed to death in the Western Road area of Brighton on Tuesday.

On Saturday Mr Slade’s heartbroken parents paid tribute to their son.

His mother Maureen, from Worcester Park, Surrey, and his father, also called Stuart, from Roehampton, London, said Mr Slade was a loving and caring son and father who will be greatly missed.

In a joint statement they said: “We would not wish what we are going through on any mother or father and we both feel that a big part of our lives was taken away when Stuart’s life was taken from him.

“What has happened has broken our hearts and we do not know how we are going to rebuild our lives.

“It is only Stuart’s seven-yearold son, our grandson, that will keep us going.”

Mr Slade was found in Hampton Place at 2.30am by members of public who flagged down police on patrol in Western Road.

He was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital where he was pronounced dead. A post-mortem examination revealed he died as a result of stab wounds to his chest.

Mr Slade was unemployed and living at the YMCA in Old Steine, after recently being made homeless.

Over the weekend floral tributes were left at the murder scene.

One card from his father read: “RIP son. You were the most beautiful son any father could wish for.

“I will think of you every day for the rest of my life.

“I hope you are at peace and I’m looking forward to seeing you again somewhere else, love Dad X”

Another message from his brother said: “Hello, big bro. It is your little brother, James. Hope you’re some place better than we are right now.

“I’ll miss you loads and loads, RIP, lots of love, James. (Stu’ll keep the blue flag flying high for ya. Bye XX)”

Others said: “No one deserves to die like this, RIP mate, Keith, Jane, Paul, Jackie, Ashley, Lee, Lawrence, Joe, Stewart and Pat” and “So many truly treasured memories, I hope you are at peace, our lives will have a huge empty hole Lorraine, Chris, Edru XXXXX RIP”

Last year The Argus launched its Knives Cost Lives campaign which called for a mandatory two-year sentence for anyone caught carrying a knife and an end to automatic early release for knife criminals.

More than 900 readers signed our petition demanding the Government get tough on knife criminals.