Victim stabbed attacker with bladed knuckleduster

A man who was being attacked by two other men in the middle of the night stabbed one of them with a bladed knuckleduster after "panic took hold", a court has heard.

Mathew Boyde and Roy Kneale-Hammond, both 22, had kicked down the man's door in Ramsey and attacked him in his living room in the early hours of 5 July over a drug debt.

Douglas Courthouse heard the victim stabbed Boyde, who was wearing a balaclava, in the chest in self-defence as the pair kicked and punched him.

Boyde and Kneale-Hammond have been jailed for one year and eight months.

Kneale-Hammond had earlier sent text messages to the man stating it was "tax day", which the court heard was a reference to drug debt collection.

Among the messages was a threat that the victim should "get it sorted or I'll be sitting in your living room when you wake up".

At about 01:40 BST on 5 July, Kneale-Hammond attempted to call the man several times, but received no answer.

The man was then awakened by a "loud bang" at his door and the sound of footsteps on the stairs.

The court heard he had armed himself with a knuckleduster that had a blade after "panic took hold" of him.

Boyde and Kneale-Hammond, along with another man who was also wearing a balaclava, barged into his living room and attacked him.

During the struggle Boyde's mask was pulled off and he was stabbed several times.

The three men ran away when neighbours in the building responded to the commotion.

The court heard Boyde spent nine days in hospital for treatment for several stab wounds, after he was found bleeding at Ramsey Bus Station.

Although initially it was the victim that was arrested for the injuries he had inflicted, the charge was later withdrawn and Boyde and Kneale-Hammond were arrested.

Both pleaded guilty to affray.

Deemster Graeme Cook said the victim "did sadly have to use a knife because he wasn't aware of what was going to happen".

Jailing Boyde and Kneale-Hammond, the deemster said it was an "appalling" offence "by any stretch of the imagination".

Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.