A knife-wielding student who sparked terror at the University of Bradford when he brandished the weapon on the campus was labelled “all mouth, no courage” by the judge sentencing him.

Carlion McCarmock, 22, pleaded guilty to threatening fellow student Jay Jay Achebe with a bladed article outside the university buildings at 8pm on January 29.

McCarmock, of Scholemoor Road, Lidget Green, Bradford, wrongly believed that Mr Achebe was in a relationship with his former girlfriend, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Michael Smith said Mr Achebe was on the Richmond Road campus when McCarmock appeared from around a corner with a large kitchen knife.

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He pointed the weapon at Mr Achebe and threatened to “cut and stab” him. Mr Achebe ran off with McCarmock in pursuit.

“He was pumped up, gesticulating, with the knife in his hand,” Mr Smith said.

Mr Achebe believed his life was in danger and called the police as he fled.

McCarmock, who had taken cannabis, was apprehended by the police and made no comment when he was questioned in interview.

His barrister, Rodney Ferm, said it was a one off incident. McCarmock was not a gang member and did not habitually carry a knife.

He was a gifted science student who would now have to continue his studies at a different university after he was suspended from the campus.

McCarmock understand his actions that night had a serious impact on Mr Achebe and others who saw him with the knife.

He had taken a wrong turn by getting into drugs and he was greatly ashamed.

Mr Ferm said it would be unjust to lock McCarmock up for an incident that arose from a particular set of circumstances that would never reoccur.

The Recorder of Bradford, Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC, sentenced McCarmock to 15 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, on Thursday, with a community order and 250 hours of unpaid work.

He made a restraining order for four years banning McCarmock from having any contact with Mr Achebe and his former girlfriend, also a student at the university.

The judge said McCarmock had brought “anxiety, trauma and upset” to Mr Achebe, staff at the university and his own parents. “You were pumped up with aggression, testosterone, stupidity and cannabis,” he told McCarmock.

References spoke of the student being gifted, hard working and a pleasure to teach but he had “put the fear of God” into Mr Achebe.

“This was a pumped up, stupid, posturing threat,” Judge Durham Hall said.

“All mouth, with no courage and a big knife.”

He urged McCarnock to try to resume his studies but warned him he would go straight to prison if he breached the suspended sentence order.