Pub attacker left victim crippled after stabbing him in the back

Colin David Ryan used a kitchen knife to attack John Greaves, 58, waiting until his back was turned in the George public house in Cleckheaton.

He then phoned his mother and told her he thought he had killed the other man.

Robin Frieze told Leeds Crown Court for Ryan yesterday he had felt guilt for years for not speaking out against his father who had committed sex offIences against two girls, and when he discovered Mr Greaves had a similar background and was seeing his ex-partner "he transposed his feelings of anger" to him instead. He had quickly expressed shame and remorse afterwards.

Ryan, 40 of Whitechapel Road, Cleckheaton admitted causing Mr Greaves grievous bodily harm with intent and having a bladed weapon on March 27.

Imposing an indeterminate jail sentence for public protection, Judge Paul Hoffman said the "potentially murderous" attack was captured on closed circuit TV.

The judge told Ryan: "You stabbed him six times in the back, one blow penetrated his spine, another blow partly penetrated the spine. The consequences are terrible and crippling for the victim. He can't work any more, he suffers paralysis on one side of his body, his mobility is very limited. You have made a cripple out of him."

He said Ryan's thought processes were "hard to fathom", and that he was satisfied Ryan posed a danger to the public because of his history of offending, jealousy, unpredictability, drug and alcohol abuse.

The judge ordered him to serve a minimum of five-and-a-half years minus the time spent on remand, and added he would only be released when the Parole Board no longer felt he posed a risk.