A NEWPORT man who slashed a relative’s back with a Stanley knife in a “disgraceful” attack has been locked up for five years.

Zafar Ali, 20, of Ruperra Street, was warned by recorder Malcolm Bishop QC at Cardiff Crown Court yesterday that he should not take the law into his own hands after he attacked victim Ali Hussinain over a family feud after a family dispute flared up in April this year.

Ali, who last month admitted to wounding Mr Hussinain with intent, was sentenced to five years in a young offenders’ institution at Cardiff Crown Court yesterday.

His co-defendant Azhar Hussain, 27, also of Ruperra Street, was given an 18-month suspended sentence for 18 months, a community order and 150 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty to punching the victim during the attack.

Barrister Tim Evans, prosecuting, told the court that a “minor family dispute” had escalated causing a fight to break out between the victim and defendants, who were both throwing punches, on April 12 this year in Commercial Street at about 6.30pm.

Mr Evans said Mr Hussinain was with friends near the Transporter Bridge later that evening when a taxi pulled up and Ali jumped out.

He told the court: “He (Ali) started to swing at Mr Hussinain with the blade in an up and down motion. Zafar Ali slashed Mr Hussinain twice to his back causing lacerations and bleeding.”

He said Mr Hussinain started to walk away “with his back covered in blood” but Ali had followed him and swung the knife towards Mr Hussinain’s chest, who protected himself with his arms.

Mr Hussinain’s elbow was cut in the attack and he had to have a minor operation to remove part of the blade that had broken off.

The court heard that in attacking Mr Hussinain, Ali had also breached the conditions of a suspended sentence given to him on February 3 this year for possessing a bladed article.

Recorder Malcolm Bishop QC activated Ali’s suspended sentence of 16 weeks, which will run concurrently to the to his five years term.

In mitigation, barrister Karl Williams, defending representing Ali, said his client Ali had taken responsibility for his actions by pleading guilty and was remorseful of his involvement.

It was agreed that his co-defendant Hussain was not aware that there was a knife at the scene and that, except accept for punching, he did not play a further part in the attack.

Recorder Bishop QC told Ali that the attack could have ended his victim’s life and warned him not take the law into his own hands.

He said: “What happened was quite disgraceful. I accept that there was some family dispute but you must know that you can’t take the law into your own hands.

“You are 20 years of age, if you go on the way that you do, you’re going to spend the rest of your life in prison. This attack could have quite easily resulted in a fatality.”

He told Hussain: “I hope you have learnt your lesson, if not, we can deal with you as we have your co-defendant.”

Mr Hussain was also ordered to pay a £100 victim surcharge.