Balaclava-clad teen told friend to stab man with 'Rambo-style knife' outside Morley snooker hall
The judge said he was “extremely fortunate” not to be facing a murder conviction
A man was left fighting for his life after being stabbed with a “Rambo-style knife” outside a snooker hall in Morley.
The man suffered two collapsed lungs after being attacked at the instructions of Coban Blake, Leeds Crown Court heard.
Prosecutor Joe Culley told the court how Blake and another unidentified male, confronted the victim as he walked past the Morley Snooker Centre with his girlfriend over a police statement.
Rejecting the victim’s insistence that there were “no issues,” the court heard how 19-year-old Blake told his friend to “stab him up.”
The victim ran and the pair, who the court heard were both wearing balaclavas, gave chase with the defendant travelling on an e-bike, until the man tripped and fell.
Blake , who pleaded guilty to S18 Grievous Bodily Harm with intent, could then be heard on CCTV saying “stab him then” as the unidentified male twice plunged the “Rambo-style knife” into the man’s stomach,” Mr Culley said.
In mitigation, defence counsel Lily Wildman told the court her client, who was 18 at the time of the offence, had a “lack of maturity” and had been forced to “grow up quickly” following a difficult childhood.
She added that he had no previous convictions and had been “getting his head down” and his life “back on track” since the incident.
Defence claims that the 19-year-old, of no fixed abode, had played a “lesser role” in the attack were rejected by Judge Simon Batiste.
Passing sentence, Judge Batiste told Blake he was “extremely fortunate” not to be facing a murder conviction.
“You were directing the other person, making it clear that you were in charge,” he added.
He sentenced him to seven years and six months in a Young Offenders Institution, but opted against activating a dangerous offenders provision.