News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A boyfriend has been jailed for seven years for stabbing a man in the chest because he sent a friend request to his partner.

Ross Hunter, 26, told victim Aaron Hogan he was going to kill him as he plunged a kitchen knife into him during a lunch-time confrontation at a bus stop.

A court heard how Hunter had the 'wrong end of the stick' and Mr Hogan only wanted to chat to his girlfriend.

Mr Hogan tried to escape by climbing over a six-foot gate in an alleyway last October.

He was then helped by a local resident after collapsing in the street as Hunter got back in the car and fled the scene.

(Image: Getty)

In his victim impact statement, Mr Hogan described having lost half his liver as a result of the attack and contracting an infection which required a blood transfusion.

He now had a 12-inch scar down his chest and said he was "a nervous wreck".

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC said what Hunter, from Middleton, West Yorkshire, did because of an apparently innocent contact over Facebook was "truly alarming" and both parties were very lucky Mr Hogan had not died.

The judge, who described the defendant as cowardly and 'a nasty piece of work', said a sentence of less than seven years would be an offence to the victim and society.

Prosecutor, Rupert Doswell said: “Mr Hogan, who spent eight days in the hospital, later discovered that Hunter had been making threats towards him over a number of days.

“Aaron said Hunter had 'got the wrong end of the stick' because he just wanted to chat to the woman.”

(Image: PA)

Last month, Hunter pleaded guilty to a charge of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm as an alternative to an attempted murder allegation at Bradford Crown Court, West Yorkshire.

Barrister Peter Hampton, for Hunter, said the incident had "got out of hand" and shocked his client as well as the complainant

Mr Hampton said the defendant had shown some insight into what he had done and was genuinely remorseful.

Hunter was warned by the judge if he did anything like it again he would be going to prison for life.