A convicted robber who set his dog on two men playing football in a Keighley park before stabbing and slashing at them with a bladed weapon has been jailed for six-and-a-half years.

Alan Ibbs, 38, unleashed the unprovoked, drink-fuelled attack on a sunny Bank Holiday afternoon in Burgess Field, Highfield, Bradford Crown Court heard.

He shouted across at the men, who were strangers to him, and set his Stafford-shire Bull Terrier on Daniel Kaine, ordering the animal to, “Get him boy”.

When the animal seized Mr Kaine’s left ankle, Ibbs lashed him with its chain lead and stabbed him three times in the chest and armpit.

Mr Kaine’s friend, Joseph Smith, grabbed the dog to pull it off, but it went for him, prosecutor Ian Mullarkey told the court on Tuesday.

Ibbs struck Mr Smith on the back of the head with the dog chain and slashed him on the neck with a shiny, silver object.

He was then lashed on the back and chest with the lead.

Ibbs left the park with his dog, leaving both his victims bleeding heavily and a woman with them in a state of distress.

Ibbs, of Sandywood Street, Keighley, pleaded guilty on the day of his trial to unlawfully and maliciously wounding Mr Kaine and Mr Smith with intent to do them grievous bodily harm on May 6 this year.

Mr Kaine needed 14 stitches in his wounds and Mr Smith had a 10cm laceration to his neck and cuts to his shoulder and chest.

Mr Mullarkey said a dog lead with Mr Smith’s blood on it was found at Ibbs’ home.

Ibbs had a string of previous convictions, dating from when he was 15, for assault, wounding and robbery.

He was in custody since his arrest.

The court heard that the police had seized the dog and it was in kennels. A decision had to be made as to whether it could be safely rehoused with a different owner.

In mitigation, Ibbs’ barrister, Jayne Beckett, said he had detoxified in prison and was no longer addicted to illegal drugs.

He had received a severe “punishment beating” the day after the attack, she told the court.

“He realises how very unsavoury and unattractive these offences are,” Mrs Beckett said.

Jailing Ibbs, Judge David Hatton QC told him: “Fuelled by drink and/or drugs of some description, you, without provocation, wounded both men with some sort of weapon that you clearly possessed.”