In jailing Jonathan Turley, Belfast Crown Court judge Mr Justice Hart revealed that he will serve his sentence in a Doncaster hospital because he cannot receive treatment for “emotionally unstable and dissocial personality types” in Northern Ireland.

Turley, from Torrens Avenue in north Belfast, was originally charged with attempting to murder Anthony Braniff on January 1, 2007, but that was left on the books when he pleaded guilty to wounding with intent three days before his trial was due to begin.

The 26-year-old pleaded guilty to making threats to kill the party hostess Joleen Drummond and her parents.

An earlier court had heard that when 24-year-old Mr Braniff went to Miss Drummond's party in the Oldpark area, it had been raining and mistaking Turley's scarf for a towel, mopped his wet head with it when he arrived.

Turley became angry at this and although Mr Braniff apologised, a fight broke out with Turley being headbutted and the pair were separated again.

However, as Mr Justice Hart put it, “the tension continued” and Turley then attacked Mr Braniff with a kitchen knife, stabbing him five times in the upper body.

The judge said that from medical reports and a statement taken from Mr Braniff, it was apparent that he suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, had had to give up his job “and that the long term consequences for his physical and mental health will be considerable and may be permanent”.

He told the court that after the stabbing, Turley “embarked upon what can only be described as a campaign of threats and intimidation” towards Miss Drummond and her family.

Quoting from her statement, Mr Justice Hart said Turley threatened to “burn your house down with you and your son in it” if she made a statement to police.

Miss Drummond moved in with her parents but even then, Turley phoned the house “up to 10 times a day, sometimes more, including while he was an in patient at Knockbracken Healthcare Park telling her father: “I'll be getting out of here soon enough and I'll be coming to see you.”

A phonecall was made to Miss Drummond's mother in which Turley said “your time is up”.

Mr Justice Hart revealed that Turley has a “substantial record” which begins the day after he turned 14 and includes convictions for actual bodily harm, possessing a weapon, robbery and causing his mother to fear violence from him.

“It is apparent,” said the judge, “that he is a violent and dangerous young man who has no compunction about resorting to violence or threats of violence...”

The judge said the jail term, as well as the one year probation term Turley agreed to serve, “could, it seems, at least reduce the danger to the public” when Turley is released.