A family photo helped to jail a terrifying knifeman after capturing him fleeing from police moments after he stabbed a park-goer and grabbed the victim's dog.
Christopher Anthony Howe, 33, threatened to "cut" 42-year-old Paul Norton's beloved terrier as the dad walked her through Reddish Vale Country Park in Manchester last May 24.
Mr Norton heard his pet squeal and turned round to find the attacker clutching her by the scruff of her neck. When confronted, Howe said: "I'm going to cut your dog and then I'll cut your throat".
The attacker dropped the dog after trained martial artist Mr Norton kung-fu kicked him in the chest, before jumping up and slashing his arm and face with a knife.
Mr Norton said he has been unable to sleep and his children too scared to return to the park after the incident, reports Manchester Evening News.
When Howe was spotted by police in the park smoking a cannabis joint later in the day, he fled from officers, even wading through a river to dodge them.
He was spotted by passer-by Hayley Gibson, who was taking a family photo in the park and captured Howe running from officers in the background.
She later saw a post on Facebook about the incident, before submitting the photograph to Greater Manchester Police.
Mr Norton told court he believed Howe used a foldable Stanley knife to attack him, and during an identity parade last August he told police he was '90% sure' Howe was the offender.
Howe had pleaded not guilty to wounding with intent, unlawful wounding and carrying a knife in the park.
A jury at Stockport's Nightingale crown court retired to consider their verdicts on Wednesday afternoon and convicted him of unlawful wounding by a 10-2 majority.
They acquitted Howe of wounding with intent, but found him guilty of possession of a knife by an 11-1 majority.
Prosecuting, Wayne Jackson read a personal statement from Mr Norton, in which he said his children were now too scared to go out on to the park - even though it is just 30 seconds from their house.
"I haven't slept since the attack," Mr Norton said in the statement.
"The attack came out of nowhere which makes it more difficult to cope."
Defending, Neil Ronan said his client had been 'living a normal life until he found himself in a prolonged period of homelessness'.
"This is a man who as plans for the future which involves getting help and support which before this incident he was completely without," he added.
Howe refused to attend court for the sentencing and stayed in his cell while Recorder O'Mahony continued in his absence.
He said: "This is a serious offence in a public park where families and others go to relax and who need to feel safe.
"It started with the defendant for some reason picking up Mr Norton's dog. The knife attack was a reaction to being kicked in the stomach. But the defendant did have a knife and he attacked Mr Norton.
"There is some violence in his history - and the location of the offence and the fact his children do not feel safe going to the park has a bearing on the sentence."
Howe was sentenced to 18 months in prison for possession of a knife and six months for unlawful wounding, with the two sentences to run concurrently for a total of 18 months.
Following the verdict, senior crown prosecutor Anna Mackenzie said: “Howe carried out an unprovoked attack on a stranger in a busy public park.
"I would like to thank the witness for coming forward with the photo which helped us bring him to justice.
"I hope today’s result will allow the victim to move on with his life.”
