A KNIFE-WIELDING music fan has been jailed after stabbing a man who started singing alongside him in the street.

James Richardson had sunk more than 20 cans of lager and was walking along a York street mouthing the words to songs on his MP3 player when passer-by Aidan Thompson decided to join in.

Thinking he was being mocked, the 28-year-old lost his temper and, during the fight that followed, stabbed the other man five times.

Despite needing hospital treatment after the attack in Vine Street on September 18 last year, Mr Thompson was not seriously injured.

But Richardson, of Hadrian Avenue, Tang Hall, had to face the music after one of his friends told police about the stabbing.

Richardson - described as a "talented young man" successfully combating a heroin problem - admitted unlawful wounding and was sentenced to two years in prison at York Crown Court.

Anthony Kelbrick, prosecuting, said: "Mr Thompson had been watching football and drinking beer at his employer's house, and while making his way home with friends, he came across Richardson.

"He was listening to an MP3 player and appeared to be singing to himself, and this amused Mr Thompson, who began to sing along with him. It seems the defendant took it the wrong way and thought the Michael was being extracted'."

As the pair fought, Mr Thompson's friends realised Richardson had something in his hand.

Mr Kelbrick said: "Richardson ran off, and Mr Thompson then discovered he had been stabbed three times in the arm or shoulder and twice in the chest."

After Richardson was arrested, he told police he believed Mr Thompson was making fun of him, but he didn't realise he had stabbed him.

Ruth Cranidge, defending Richardson, said: "He had far too much to drink, took the mimicking as an insult and reacted to it.

"He didn't intend to cause any injuries by waving the knife around - it was brought out in order to frighten the complainant only. He has made significant progress in his life - this is a young man who, by his own achievement, has become clean of heroin and started to make something of his life.

"He has been described as unrivalled' in remaining drug-free. Since this offence, he has stopped drinking and going out, and he is capable of leading a crime-free law-abiding, worthwhile lifestyle."

Sentencing Richardson, Judge Stephen Ashurst told him: "You got into a fight - perhaps not that exceptional - but the problem is that you pulled out a knife, and it is perfectly clear that knife crime has to be punished in a meaningful way.

"Your victim has been extremely lucky not to have suffered much more serious injuries and you are extremely fortunate that you are not facing gravely more serious charges.

"When a knife is produced, there is the capacity for a serious crime, and the courts have to do what they can to discourage the use of knives."