Jail for 'unpredictable' man who admitted stabbing

A "violent and unpredictable" man who stabbed another man at his home in Bradford, ransacked his flat and stole his wallet, has been jailed for six-and-a-half years.

Darren Fellows, 44, was at the flat in Lindholme Gardens, Allerton, on 16 January when he stabbed the man in the chest before leaving him wrapped in a duvet.

The seriously injured man was found in his bedroom later that day by a neighbour and taken to hospital, Bradford Crown Court was told.

Fellows, of Cross Lane, Great Horton, admitted wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm and non-dwelling burglary.

The court heard he had more than 60 previous convictions for over 150 offences, and on the day of the offence he had taken crack cocaine and spice.

The judge, Recorder Ayesha Smart, said Fellows was assessed as being violent, aggressive and unpredictable and she was satisfied that he was dangerous.

As well as the jail sentence, she imposed an extended licence period of three years.

Prosecutor Eleanor Durdy told the court that Fellows had suddenly produced a knife and stabbed the complainant in the chest.

The injured man said he could not breathe and felt like he was going to die, but the court heard Fellows carried on ransacking the flat as his victim drifted in and out of consciousness.

Ms Durdy said Fellows took the victim's wallet containing bank cards, his mobile phone and some clothes, and used the cards in several shops.

Later that evening, Fellows joined a group of burglars who broke into a Bradford city centre beauty salon and stole £1,000 worth of products, she added.

A victim impact statement was read to court in which he said the attack had left him suffering nightmares.

The complainant said he had to have surgery in hospital and did not know if he would survive.

"What sort of person would do this to me? I have to relive what happened every day," he said in the statement.

"This has turned my life upside down."

The complainant said he had loved his flat, but it was tainted now and the attack would affect him for the rest of his life.

Barrister Ian Hudson, for Fellows, said his client had little recollection of the offending due to his "intoxicated state".

At the time of the offences, Fellows was already on police bail for unrelated matters and Recorder Smart said his offending behaviour appeared to be escalating in seriousness.

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