A MAN who stabbed another man in the back in a Haslingden street has been warned he faces years behind bars.

Shumuz Ullah, 20, plunged a knife into his victim in a “homophobic” attack in Church Street in July, Burnley Crown Court was told.

Ullah, of Pine Street, Haslingden, admitted wounding with intent. He will be sentenced on January 16.

Judge Beverley Hunt ordered an assessment of dangerousness and warned him: “Make no mistake about this - you are going to prison and you are going for several years.”

After the case, police revealed how Ullah had struck in the early hours of the morning as his victim was walking down the street with another man.

The attack was so severe the knife broke off and was left embedded in his back, detectives said.

He was treated at both the Royal Blackburn Hospital and the Royal Preston Hospital but has since made a full recovery.

Det Sgt Ben Hodgkinson, from Rossendale CID, said: “This was a totally random attack and it seems like a case of mistaken identity - he got the wrong person.

“It was a particularly nasty incident and it was only pure luck that the victim did not suffer more serious injuries.

“Part of the knife was still in his back after the attack but luckily it did not hit anything vital.

“Ullah will certainly be going to prison and I would hope he will get a substantial sentence.”