2 days ago
Horror outside primary school as knifeman tries to stab dad picking up his child
A knifeman threatened to stab a parent outside a primary school as children were being picked up. Cardell Hamman, 20, approached the dad as he collected his child outside the north Manchester school in January.
Without warning, Hamman brandished a knife and shouted: "You want to f*** with my sister?"
He then moved towards the man, swinging the knife at his body. The blade brushed the man's shoulder before he grabbed Hamman and pulled him away, Manchester Crown Court heard.
READ MORE: 'Can someone get this man away from us': Woman's horror Jet2 flight after stranger sat next to her strikes
READ MORE: Man planned to spend day 'on the beer drinking 16 pints' before meeting woman he's accused of murdering, court told
He then ran towards the school, followed by Hamman, who shouted: "I'm gonna stab you up."
Sign up to the MEN Court newsletter here
Kate Gaskell, prosecuting, said: "CCTV at the school recorded him as he arrived, followed by the defendant. As the defendant entered the school playground he appeared to secret the knife about his body.
"He left as the victim neared the door to the building. As he left the defendant shouted, 'You want to f*** with my sister. Watch, I'm gonna stab you up'."
Others also heard Hamman shout words to the effect of 'you're a dead man'. The victim recognised Hamman, but 'as far he was aware there was no ill feelings between them', Ms Gaskell added.
In a statement the victim said: ''This incident has shocked me and makes me worried and concerned for my family's safety. So many thoughts are going through my head about what might happen in the future or what could have happened.
'I want to be strong for my family, and my opinion is that I don't want to show my emotions to them or anyone else because as a father I have to be strong for them and show them that their dad isn't scared of anything.
'As time goes by I might begin to feel differently but for now my thoughts rest with what could have happened if I hadn't managed to get away and what if something else like this happens in the future.'
He added: 'I have no idea why Cardell would target me, as far as I'm concerned, until today I had no problem with him.'
Hamman was arrested after CCTV footage led police to his home in Droylsden. He told officers he had taken an overdose the day before and was taken to hospital. He was examined and released as being fit to be interviewed.
Hamman denied the offences. He accepted he knew the victim as the man's child knew his sister, but said there were 'no ill feelings' between them. He later pleaded guilty to attempted wounding with intent; and possession of a bladed article.
Join our Court and Crime WhatsApp group HERE
Defending, Graham Rishton said the incident took place due to a 'culmination in a disagreement between the victim and Hamman's sister', though, he added: 'Nothing can come close to justifying this type of behaviour. It is only his good fortune, and obviously that of the victim, that there was no injury.'
Mr Rishton said the defendant, who had previous convictions for carrying a knife, had since become a father which had provided him with a 'new perspective'.
Jailing him for three-and-a-half years, Judge Alan Conrad KC said: 'Your victim had done nothing to deserve this. I accept you had a very difficult start in life. You are a young man who tends to go out with a knife and finds it difficult to control yourself.'
Hamman, of Moss bank Avenue, was banned from contacting the victim, under the terms of a restraining order, indefinitely.
