Hamza Hussain, from Gibbs Close, High Wycombe, jailed after attacking Bilal Ahmed in Mendip Way, Downley

High Wycombe teenager Hamza Hussain went on the run for a month following the vicious knife attack, evading detectives by hiding in a loft, after stabbing a 24-year-old man outside him home.

Yesterday he was jailed for eight years.

READ MORE HERE: Knife attacker behind bars.

The 19-year-old stabbed Bilal Ahmed four times in the back and once in the side, caused by Mr Ahmed’s failure to shake his hand when a car he was in pulled up next to the victim, court heard yesterday.

The shocking attack in Mendip Way, Downley, was so severe Mr Ahmed suffered a collapsed lung and cuts to his liver, and still felt the pain from his wounds six weeks later.

Attack happened at junction of Mendip Way and The Pastures service road.

“Bad blood” existed between the pair already but it is unclear what precisely caused the feud – although prosecutors said it may have been started by Mr Ahmed previously lecturing Hussain on avoiding a life that could lead to him being jailed.

The teenager, from Gibbs Close, failed to heed the warning and was yesterday caged for eight years for wounding with intent.

He had initially denied the charge, but midway through his trial he changed his plea and admitted his guilt – allowing a co-defendant to go free after Hussain accepted that he had been entirely to blame for the stab wounds inflicted on Mr Ahmed.

Hussain was described by his victim as “a reckless individual” and the judge who jailed him launched a blistering attack on knife culture, calling it “a curse on our society”.

Kelly Brocklehurst, prosecuting, told the court: “The victim, Bilal Ahmed, left his house on Mendip Way in High Wycombe to go for a walk. He walked up towards the junction with The Pastures service road.

“He saw a silver VW Golf pull up next to him and recognised the driver. Mr Ahmed leaned into the front passenger window to shake hands and greet him.

“Having greeted the driver, Mr Ahmed realises the passenger door at the rear of the vehicle opened and Hamza Hussain got out of the car and said, ‘Why the f*ck didn’t you shake hands with me?’ Mr Ahmed replied, ‘What the f*ck, I didn’t see you’.

A lengthy police investigation took place outside the properties in Mendip Way, following the attack.

“There had been a previous conversation between Mr Hussain and Mr Ahmed on an earlier occasion, where Mr Ahmed had tried to advise Mr Hussain about leading a life that led to jail. Mr Hussain took issue with this action.”

He added that Hussain and another man both attempted to hit the victim, before he turned his back to them and suffered a series of blows.

Mr Brocklehurst said: “Mr Ahmed became aware, all of a sudden, the blows had stopped and the group has dispersed. He notices for the first time his clothing was wet with blood. He realised he had been stabbed.

“Mr Ahmed lifts up his top. He is losing a lot of blood and is struggling to breathe.

“Mr Ahmed had five stab wounds; four to the back and one to his left side.”

Hussain stabbed Mr Ahmed in the early hours of July 16 last year but avoided capture for more than a month by hiding out in a loft.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, 24-year-old Mr Ahmed said: “The thing that upset me the most was it happened on the street where I live, right outside my house. My family came outside and found me lying in the street. They had to find me like that.

“They were very worried about the fact Hamza was on the run from the police for so long afterwards.

“He is a reckless individual.”

Hamza Hussain, jailed for eight years.

Passing sentence at Aylesbury Crown Court, Judge Francis Sheridan said: “Although there may be some background to this case - and I rather suspect there is, although I don’t know what it is.

“There was a certain amount of bad blood between you and Bilal Ahmed that I would be left guessing about and I’m not prepared to do that.

“What you did was absolutely wicked. You got out a knife and stabbed him five times – four to his back, entirely indicative of who the attacker was.”

Judge Sheridan added: “The sentence is eight years’ imprisonment. That’s to make it clear those who carry knives must expect a prison sentence, and those who use them must expect an even longer sentence.

“Knives are a curse on our society. Those who carry them, particularly in gangs, must expect to go to prison.”