A MAN has been jailed for 16 years after stabbing a man twice in the abdomen with a flick knife in the street causing a life-threatening injury.

Amr Raheem, 23, attacked his victim in East Parade, Keighley, on February 8 this year, pouncing and stabbing him while he was walking away.

Raheem, of North Dean Road, Keighley, was convicted by a jury at Bradford Crown Court of wounding the man with intent to do him grievous bodily harm.

Sentencing him yesterday, the Recorder of Bradford, Judge Richard Mansell QC, said he had been found guilty on the clearest evidence.

The offence in Keighley town centre in broad daylight was captured on CCTV. It was before the Covid-19 lockdown and the streets were teeming with people.

Raheem had been to the gym and was routinely carrying a lethal flick knife he claimed was for self-protection.

His victim, in his mid-20s, had been to Keighley Leisure Centre swimming pool and was walking home via the market to get some food.

He recognised Raheem from school and tapped him on the shoulder from behind. Raheem had headphones on and reacted badly to the shock. He was verbally abusive and then sneaked up and smashed a half full water bottle into the man’s face.

The man did not react violently, he “took this on the chin” and walked on.

Judge Mansell told Raheem: “You were already spoiling for a fight because you put your hand in your jacket pocket where you kept your flick knife. You turned and offered your hand in an apparent gesture of apology, which he understandably refused.”

Judge Mansell said he was unconvinced that this was a genuine apology but that Raheem was provoking him. When the man punched him once from behind, Raheem flicked his knife open and held it behind his back.

He waited until the man had turned and started walking way and then pounced, stabbing him twice in the side of the abdomen, causing two deep wounds.

Raheem then pursued him around nearby roads for almost four minutes until he collapsed from blood loss.

The victim suffered life-threatening injuries. He was taken by air ambulance to Leeds General Infirmary for surgery.

Judge Mansell said it was a repeated and sustained attack.

Raheem had carried and then used “a wicked knife” in the street when there were people around.

He was already on a suspended prison sentence order from Bolton.

Judge Mansell jailed Raheem for 15 years with the 12 month suspended sentence activated consecutively in full.

He was sentenced to two years to run concurrently for possession of a bladed article, making 16 years in all.