A thug who slashed a Good Samaritan across the chest when he tried to stop him taunting a street beggar has been jailed for five-and-a-half years.

Paul Ricketts, 41, of North Dene Road, Silsden, lashed out when passer-by John Loughran intervened after he saw the thug poke a beggar with a stick in broad daylight on Cavendish Street, Keighely.

When he was arrested later, he spat in a police officer’s face and said he “had HIV.”

At yesterday’s sentencing hearing at Bradford Crown Court, Judge Durham Hall branded Ricketts “a bully and a coward and an anti-social lout.”

The court heard Mr Loughran asked Ricketts what he was doing when he witnessed him tapping a beggar on the head and poking him with a stick on August 3.

Ricketts let loose a barrage of abusive bad language, followed him down the street and challenged him to a fight.

Mr Loughran, himself a reformed robber, told the police he had served 13 years in jail and did not want any trouble.

Prosecutor Camille Morland told the court that Ricketts drew a penknife and slashed Mr Loughran across the chest, penetrating almost to his abdominal cavity.

Ricketts, who has convictions for drugs offences, was caught attacking Mr Loughran on CCTV and arrested an hour later.