A DAD-to-be has been jailed for five years for punching and stabbing a man who had offered him a “hand of friendship” in an attempt to end bad feeling between the pair.

A sentencing hearing at Bradford Crown Court was told today that Asim Mahmood attacked his victim outside a shisha bar on Edderthorpe Street, Barkerend, on September 16 last year.

The 21-year-old, of Idle Road, Undercliffe, was convicted of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm after a trial in April.

Sentencing him yesterday, Judge Peter Benson said Mahmood was of previous good character, but added: “You were out in the streets of Bradford on the night of September 16.

“The complainant in this case was someone you were at school with, but not exactly the same age, with whom you had a confrontation quite some time before because he was seen in the company of a girl you were quite protective towards.

“He recognised you as you approached and extended a hand of friendship to you, hoping to put matters behind you.

“You were not having any of that and responded by punching him repeatedly in the face.”

The victim ran off, but was chased by Mahmood, the court heard.

Judge Benson said: “You followed him and you produced a knife and stabbed him in the side, causing a four-centimetre-long cut which needed stitching.

“Fortunately, there was no greater injury than that.”

Prosecutor Michael Greenhalgh said the victim also suffered a “superficial laceration” to his forehead and a small cut to his nose during the attack.

James Bourne-Arton, for Mahmood, said: “The real mitigation is his age and lack of relevant previous convictions.”

He added: “What plays on his mind to the greatest extent is the fact that his pregnant girlfriend will be without his support at this very difficult and important time.”

The court heard that Mahmood wanted to gain some further education to improve his future job prospects.

Mr Bourne-Arton said his client had worked at a British Heart Foundation shop, and added: “In the brief time he has been in custody, it has been a negative experience. He spends 23 hours a day in a cell, with plenty of time to reflect on what he did. He is anxious to better himself and hopes to obtain a better education to get better employment upon his release.”