POLICE have launched murder investigations after three men were stabbed to death in separate attacks.

David James Scott, 33, from Stanley, County Durham, man was found fatally injured with stab wounds.

He is said to have desperately knocked on doors for help before collapsing in a pool of blood in a back lane behind Rose Avenue, South Moor, Stanley, County Durham, early yesterday.

People living in the street suggested he had been at a neighbour’s house before the attack.

In a separate incident, a 25-year-old man was knifed to death in South Tyneside. Four people have been arrested in connection with the murder of David Arthur Charlton as he walked home from the pub with his girlfriend.

Two men were held on suspicion of murder while two other men were held on suspicion of assisting an offender.

David Charlton was set upon at 10.36pm on Friday at the junction of Stanhope Road and Boldon Lane in South Shields. He was taken to South Tyneside District Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Police believe he had left the Last Orders pub with his girlfriend when two youths walking in the opposite direction made comments towards them.

A row then took place and the youths assaulted him, inflicting stab wounds.

DCI Paul Young, from Northumbria Police’s Major Crime Team, said: “Everything I have heard about David suggests he was a very nice young man with a good job and in a loving relationship.

“This was an unprovoked attack on two decent people.

“We have had a very good response from the community but we continue to urge anyone to come forward with information which could help police with this investigation. We have released a photo of David in the hope it will urge people to come forward.

“A young man has lost his life and we are carrying out extensive inquiries to establish what happened and who is responsible.

“This includes checking CCTV in the area, speaking with witnesses and carrying out searches of the scene and surrounding area.

“People don’t need to give their name, they can contact us anonymously, but I’d urge people to call us at the earliest opportunity.”

In the third incident, a 35-year-old man was stabbed at Hugh Street in Wallsend, North Tyneside, yesterday at around 3.40pm after reports of a disturbance. The man was taken to hospital where he later died.

Police said a 29-year-old man who knew the victim was arrested on suspicion of murder and was last night in police custody. Police are carrying out extra patrols to reassure residents and are appealing for information.

In Stanley, detectives were carrying out house-to-house inquiries in the area yesterday afternoon. The back lane where the man was found was cordoned off by police.

Police were called by neighbours after the injured man had pounded on their doors seeking help.

A Durham Police spokeswoman said: “At around 1.25am, police were called to a report of a disturbance on Rose Avenue in Stanley.

“A 33-year-old local man was found injured in the back lane and taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle where he was pronounced dead just after 6am.

“Two men and a woman from the local area have been arrested and are being interviewed in local police stations.”

Locals said they believed the dead man had been drinking with friends in a house nearby.

One woman, who asked not to be named, said: “He was knocking on doors begging for help after he was stabbed twice.

“From what we had heard there had been a falling-out during a drinking session in someone’s house. He went out in the street looking for help then he collapsed and then the emergency services were called.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

He was knocking on doors begging for help after he was stabbed twice