A VIOLENT thug who stabbed a teenager, leaving him minutes from death, has been jailed.

Christian Warburton knifed his victim in the back after chasing him through the streets of Bolton.

Yesterday, at Bolton Crown Court, he was told he will spend the next four years behind bars by judge, Recorder John Murray.

Following the court hearing, Det Con Gary Knox, of Bolton CID, said: “Warburton carried out this terrible and unprovoked attack on an unarmed teenager while he was heavily under the influence of alcohol.

“I hope today’s result will give some comfort to the victim and his family and I think it goes to show that the police will leave no stone unturned when investigating knife crime and bringing those people who carry and use knives in our town to justice.”

The attack happened at about 10.15pm on Friday, July 4, last year, when Warburton, along with a group of other teenagers, chased the victim — who cannot be named for legal reasons — from Barlow Park in Astley Bridge.

He had been with a group of friends who had left to walk home shortly before.

The boy, now aged 16, was chased to a house on the Oldhams Estate where he knocked on a door asking for help. A man called a taxi to get him out of danger. He got out of the cab in Moss Bank Way, Astley Bridge, thinking he was safe but the gang had followed the taxi and managed to corner him.

One youth punched him in the face before Warburton stabbed him in the back with a knife, puncturing his right lung.

The boy managed to stagger to the nearby Asda store where an off-duty paramedic was shopping, He administered first aid, which it later emerged saved the boy’s life.

Warburton, aged 18, of Rosebury Street, Daubhill, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent when he appeared at Bolton Crown Court. He will serve four years, minus the 219 days he has already served in custody.