A FORMER Fulham FC youth footballer was sentenced to life in prison after he stabbed two men in two ‘appalling’ attacks in Oxford.

Morgan Meragan will serve a minimum of nine years behind bars before he will be eligible to apply for parole.

During his sentencing at Oxford Crown Court three men in the public gallery were arrested following a disturbance started outside the courtroom, after it was alleged a brother of Meragan had taken a photograph.

About 15 police officers stormed into the court building during the incident, which happened while Judge Peter Ross was in his chambers, deliberating Meragan’s sentence.

Sentencing Meragan, 25, of Nisbit House, Homerton High Street, Hackney, London, on Thursday, Judge Peter Ross said the impact of the defendant’s crimes had been ‘enormous’ on his victims Naveed Ahmed and Jamal Hasan.

He added both men could have ‘easily died’ from their stab wounds.

Mr Hasan, 22, who Judge Ross said was ‘wholly innocent’, said the effects of his wounds, which were to his back and shoulder, meant his career as a professional cage fighter and coach had stalled.

He said: “It’s completely changed my life. It’s affected my sleep. I get aches and pains.

“I get dizzy. I feel weaker when I grapple with my teammates. My body does not respond to what I want it to do. This career is all I have ever wanted to do - now people are telling me I need to make a back-up plan.

"I do not know if I will ever fully recover from what has happened to me.”

Prosecuting barrister Michael Roques told the court how Meragan chased his first victim Mr Ahmed out his home in Walton Street, before flooring him and stabbing him three times in the thigh at about 2pm on July 14 last year.

Judge Ross said the Meragan attacked Mr Ahmed, 35, because of a drug debt.

Mr Roques said four days later Meragan attempted to rob Mr Hasan and stabbed the 22-year-old in the back and shoulder at 1.50am in St Clements Street, Oxford, while he was on his way to meet his girlfriend.

Mr Roques said Mr Hasan thought the stab wound, which narrowly missed his spine, was initially a ‘punch to his back’.

He added the cage fighter defended himself by kicking one of the other men Meragan was with in the head, but fell to the floor as Meragan continued to attack him with a knife, with blood pouring from his back.

Meragan fled from both crimes, but was arrested on September 16 in Granville Street, Swindon and was in possession of a sheath knife.

Mr Roques said Meragan committed the crimes while on licence for a previous jail term for robbery, in which he brandished a knife.

He added Meragan had three previous convictions for seven offences and had been involved in the London riots in 2011.

Mark Fraser, defending Meragan, said the pre-sentence report on his client identified he was a ‘young men of some intelligence with real promise.

He added his client had ‘huge prospects’ and expressed ‘clear remorse’ for his crimes.

He said the 25-year-old was injured at the age of 15, which ‘stopped his football career developing further’ and ’although he did not even know it himself’ it may have a ‘catalyst’ which led him to offending.

The court heard how Meragan also had opportunities at Queens Park Rangers and Manchester City.

Sentencing, Judge Ross said Meragan indicated ‘no wish’ to accept his guilt.

He said the attack on Mr Hasan was the ‘most hideous example of mistaken identity’ and added his life had been ‘very seriously imperilled’.

He added: “This was a very dangerous series of attacks.

“I find you to be a dangerous offender. It seems to me that there is a degree of justification of what you did in your own mind. That’s deeply concerning."

Meragan was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of nine years. He was also sentenced to nine-and-a-half years for attempted robbery and two years and six months for possession of an offensive weapon to run concurrent.

Thames Valley Police said following the scene in the court, one man was arrested for contempt of court and had been bailed to appear at Oxford Crown court on February 17.

Another man arrested for obstruction received an adult restorative disposal, and a third man arrested was released without charge.