AN ugly affray on a residential street led to a man being stabbed with a hunting knife, Bradford Crown Court has heard.

Ryan Coyne was jailed for three years after attacking his victim in Woodlark Close, Clayton Heights, Bradford, at 7pm on July 14.

Coyne, 25, of Hendford Drive, Pollard Park, Bradford, had previous convictions for battery, robbery and possession of a bladed article, prosecutor Andrew Petterson said.

The court heard that a local man heard shouting in the street and witnessed a confrontation between Coyne and three other males, one of whom had a hammer and was wearing a face covering.

When the men ran at him, Coyne drew a large hunting knife from his waistband and chased after them.

One of the fleeing males tripped and fell.

Coyne stabbed him once in the left thigh, the court heard during Friday hearing.

The police were called and spoke to the victim at Bradford Royal Infirmary where he was being treated.

However, he declined to help with the investigation.

Coyne, who was sentenced on a video link to Leeds Prison, made no comment in his police interview and, the court heard, little was known about the background to the offences.

He was charged with Section 18 causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

However, the Crown then accepted his guilty pleas to unlawful wounding, affray and possession of a bladed article in a public place.

Coyne’s barrister, Anastasis Tasou, told the court that the “whys and wherefores” of the incident were largely unimportant.

Coyne had been dealt with by the courts on two previous occasions for carrying a knife.

But this was the first time he had used one.

He was involved in a confrontation with three males, one of whom was armed with a hammer.

“There was a degree of provocation,” Mr Tasou said.

Coyne was working in sales and marketing at the time and had stable accommodation.

However, he had struggled with issues of anger management since he was a child and sought treatment over the years.

Mr Tasou said he knew it had to be an immediate prison sentence.

Judge Richard Mansell QC told Coyne it was a cowardly attack.

The “ugly incident” in a residential street was witnessed by at least one person living close by.

Coyne had thought about stabbing his victim in the stomach but fortunately thought the better of it, the court heard.

Judge Mansell stated that the victim was himself arrested for affray and had a bag of cannabis in his possession.

But Coyne was armed with a “wicked knife” and the offences were aggravated by his previous convictions for carrying weapons.