Youth jailed over stab death

Both teenagers had been drinking on the day of the attack

A teenager who stabbed a 17-year-old to death in West Yorkshire three days after being released from custody has been jailed for 14 years.

Michael Brook, 18, had just been released from a young offenders' institution when he attacked Ahmed Hassan at Dewsbury railway station.

He had earlier pleaded guilty to murder at Leeds Crown Court.

Anthony Sorren, 17, pleaded guilty to affray for his part in the incident and was given four month's detention.

Leeds Crown Court was told Brook and Sorren were "thoroughly drunk" when they arrived at the station on 15 December after drinking spirits during the morning and Sorren was making "a nuisance" of himself to passengers.

Alistair Macdonald QC, for the prosecution, earlier told the court Mr Hassan and a group of friends, who were planning to travel to the Trafford Centre in Manchester, were approached by Sorren at the station.

'Single thrust'

When he began asking them "What are you looking at?", Mr Hassan and his friends tried to defuse any potential trouble, and Sorren became friendly.

The Recorder of Leeds, Peter Collier QC, said as both groups went to catch the same train there was some jostling and Sorren threw a punch.

Ahmed Hassan died from a single stab wound to the back

The judge said: "You, Brook, must have seen that punch thrown.

"That can be the only reason for you to draw the knife you were carrying and within minutes of doing that you killed that young man with a single thrust of your knife."

Mr Hassan died in hospital later that day from a single stab wound to the back.

Brook, who has previously appeared in court 44 times and has a previous conviction for possessing a knife, had earlier denied having the weapon and tried to blame Sorren for the stabbing.

In mitigation, Graham Hyland QC said the defendant wanted to clarify that was not the case.

'Shining star'

He said: "He wishes to make it perfectly clear through me that Mr Hassan and his friends were entirely innocent."

Mr Hyland said the attack was not racially motivated but was "drink-fuelled, mindless violence with a lethal weapon".

In a statement Mr Hassan's family said: "His shining star will never dim, in fact it will burn brighter in our hearts and brighter still in heaven, and our love for him will grow stronger."

Det Supt Paul Kennedy said: "Ahmed Hassan was a young man who had his entire life to look forward to. A man of impeccable character whose loss had had a devastating effect on his family and friends.

"He was in the wrong place at the wrong time when he fell victim to the cowardly and violent actions of Brook."