A 48-YEAR-OLD man knifed his former manager after being sacked from the job which he had worked in for 30 years, a court heard.

Ian Noble, of Barber Street, Brighouse, carried out the violent attack on superior Stuart Syme after losing his position at a wire factory, it was heard.

Bradford Crown Court heard the job was a "large part" of Noble's life and that he believed Mr Syme was instrumental in his dismissal for gross misconduct.

He lost the job at Booth Wire Products in January but returned to its premises in Brighouse on February 4. Noble threw a brick through a window which hit Mr Syme on the arm.

A few hours later he turned up again and, when Mr Syme opened the door to him, he asked about getting a reference, it was heard.

Prosecutor Ian Brook said the complainant asked Noble about the brick-throwing incident but the defendant then lunged towards him.

He added: “The complainant didn’t see he had a knife initially but he instinctively grabbed at it and pulled it away. The defendant turned and walked away through the car park and the knife he had with him was on the floor. The complainant picked it up and then realised the defendant had stabbed him in his stomach.”

Colleagues called 999 and began administering first aid and Mr Syme had the three-centimetre deep puncture wound cleaned and sutured in hospital.

Mr Brook said Noble, who had returned to his home in Brighouse, used a kitchen paring knife in the attack.

When police turned up to arrest him he said: ”I know why you’re here.”

Noble said it had been “a moment of madness” at a time when he was not sleeping well and suffering from depression.

Mr Brook said Noble appeared to despise Mr Syme and he admitted having feelings of animosity towards him.

The court heard that Noble had been sacked for gross misconduct and his mental health had been affected following his dismissal.

Mr Brook said: “He blamed the complainant for the entire episode.”

Noble suggested he had only taken the knife to frighten the complainant and said he was sorry about the stabbing.

Barrister Abdul Shakoor, for Noble, said his mental health had improved significantly since the offence.

He added: “He had been a loyal employee of Booth Wire Products for three decades.

“That was in effect his life. A large part of his life.”

Mr Shakoor said Noble perceived that he was being isolated at work and ultimately he was dismissed.

He added: “He feels that his medication for a hernia had an impact on his mental health at the time.

“He indicated in his police interview that he regrets his actions and wishes to apologise to the complainant and all those who were affected by what he did.

“He totally wishes he didn’t do what he did on that morning of madness.”

Noble admitted charges of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm,

possession of an offensive weapon, assault and criminal damage.

Judge Jonathan Gibson sentenced him to a total of 40 months in prison.

The judge accepted it had been a single blow with the knife and there was some evidence that Noble was adversely affected by his mental health condition at the time.

He said: “You demonstrated remorse on the day and have done since. This was therefore an isolated incident."