A teenager stabbed two students during a brawl on Deansgate sparked by a row over cigarettes, a court heard.
Mohammed Ahmed, 18, used a weapon believed to be silver-bladed knife to wound the two 19-year-old victims in the back of their legs.
Fortunately, both escaped serious injury.
The stabbing happened during a fight between the two victims and Ahmed and his friend outside 42nd Street nightclub at around 1.50am on 8 January last year.
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Prosecutor Rachel Cooper told Manchester Crown Court the victims were standing outside having a cigarette when the offenders approached them.
"An argument develops between the defendant and the two complainants that results in a fight," she said.
"During the fight Mr Ahmed produces a knife and stables the complainants to the thigh.
"The defendants ran from the scene but were apprehended. An officer discovered a knife in a bin.
"It was said by the complainants that the defendants asked for a cigarette and when they wouldn't give them one it led to the fight.
"We can't say for sure whether that's accurate.
"But certainly the two complainants appear to have a completely cordial conversation initially before they went into a side street where the fight started."
Much of the incident was captured on CCTV footage which was played in court.
It showed Ahmed, from Hulme, and his co-defendant trading punches with the two students and at one point Ahmed aims a blow to the back of the legs.
It is believed at this point he was armed with the knife.
"Neither complainant remembers seeing a knife," said Miss Cooper.
"The police attend because after the incident [one of the complainants] realises he's got blood on his jeans.
"He asked [the other complainant] 'Have you been stabbed too?'
"They went to the nearby club 42nd Street where a security guard called police."
"There's a taxi driver who says he's seen [the defendants] ran off and police follow."
"They catch them nearby and see something being discarded.
"They check the bin and recover a knife - it is a silver bladed knife with a black handle.
"There were no forensics recovered so the Crown can't say definitely it is the weapon [used in the attack]."
Ahmed was arrested but the court heard he was sectioned under the Mental Health Act the next day.
He has since been receiving extensive treatment for mental health issues including a diagnosis of schizophrenia.
In September this year he was charged with two counts of section 18 wounding with intent and possession of a knife in September and he pleaded guilty to all offences.
Judge Recorder Anna Vigars QC heard Ahmed had no previous convictions and was 16-years-old at the time of the offences but has since turned 18.
She sentenced Ahmed, who appeared via videolink from a hospital ward, to a three year community order with supervision and a requirement for mental health treatment as well as 10 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days.
Ahmed's co-defendant admitted affray and was sentenced in a separate hearing.
