A teenager was killed by a single stab wound to the chest when he was attacked by a gang who claimed they wanted to “teach him a lesson”, a court heard.

Alex Holroyd, 19, whose parents Martin and Diane live in Shipley, died in January after being knifed by Hanif Mohammed.

Bradford Crown Court was yesterday told Mohammed lashed out with the knife, inflicting the fatal blow, during the incident in Brook Street, Todmorden, on January 9.

Mr Holroyd, who lived in Todmorden but also had a grandmother and two brothers in Bradford, died hours later at Rochdale Infirmary despite the efforts of surgeons to save him.

Mohammed, 25, of Stansfield Road, Todmorden, denied murdering the teenager, but pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the basis that he had recruited two co-defendants from Bradford and had been carrying a knife when the attack took place. Johannis Thompson, 44, of Springwell Drive, West Bowling, and 35-year-old Mohammed Javid, of Fagley Place, Fagley, both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to cause Mr Holroyd grievous bodily harm.

Barrister Andrew Byrne QC, for Mohammed, said his client lashed out with the knife when Mr Holroyd broke away from Thompson and ran.

Thompson’s barrister, Peter Joyce QC, said his client had pleaded guilty on the basis that he had no knowledge of anyone else having a weapon and he had been recruited to “teach a lesson to a bully”.

Barrister Paul Reid QC, for Javid, said he also had no knowledge of a weapon and had been involved as the driver.

Prosecutor Alistair MacDonald QC said considerable thought had been given to the pleas entered by the defendants and they were acceptable in all the circumstances.

All three men are remanded in custody and the judge, Mr Justice Cranston, agreed to adjourn sentencing for documents and reports to be obtained.

It was conceded by their barristers that the men all faced prison sentences and Mr Justice Cranston listed their next hearing for July 21.

After the case West Yorkshire Police Federation chairman Tom McGhie said the deaths of Mr Holroyd and all other knife victims were unnecessary.

Mr McGhie said: “Why people choose to resort to violence to sort out difficulties among themselves is beyond me. It is difficult to understand the motivation of people who choose to carry knives.”

He said knives accounted for more serious woundings and murders than any other weapon.

Mr McGhie said: “The penalties for carrying knives has increased. We are looking at going into schools and making sure young people understand the consequences of carrying knives.

“An important message to get across is that if you are caught carrying a knife without a lawful purpose you could end up in prison. A knife is not an accessory, but a dangerous offensive weapon.

“If the educational message gets across so that even one unnecessary death is prevented, we have done our job.”

Shipley Conservative MP Philip Davies said: “Unless we have a no-nonsense attitude to dealing with knife and violent crime we are going to see the problem escalate. The only way to get to grips with it is for the courts to hand out draconian punishments.

“Carrying and using a knife is completely unacceptable and the presumption for doing so should be that they will go to prison.

“The number of young people carrying knives is frightening and a concern for parents. Where there is a victim of crime there is a family left behind.

“The case of Mr Holroyd is absolutely tragic and unfortunately there is no comfort for his family. What we need to do is try to prevent other parents from being put in a similar position.”