TWO brothers have been jailed for a ‘sustained attack’ which left a New Year’s Eve reveller badly wounded.

James and Ryan Coward became involved in a ‘melee’ at Level nightclub, in Mawdsley Street, Bolton town centre, in the early hours of January 1, resulting in Joe Halliday suffering seven stab wounds.

Bolton Crown Court was played CCTV footage which showed Ryan initially dragging his brother away

from the scuffle before James was seen making stabbing movements towards Joe Halliday.

The court also saw Ryan punching the victim before throwing a bottle at him as he lay prone on the floor at the end of the attack.

The brothers left the scene of the attack but were arrested at their family home, in Formby Road, Salford later on New Year’s Day.

The weapon was never recovered.

A letter from Mr Halliday’s mother read to the court said the attack had had a profound effect on her son and that on one occasion he told his father ‘I don’t care if I live or die’.

Judge Timothy Clayson sentenced James Coward to seven years and four months in jail for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and possession of a sharply pointed bladed article in a public place.

Ryan Coward was jailed for three years and four months for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Both men had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing.

Handing down the sentences, Judge Clayson said: “Both of you became involved in a scuffle that developed into a fight involving a young man there who was enjoying himself.

“You, James, repeatedly stabbed him in the body with a knife, in a sustained attack in which you, Ryan, became involved by throwing punches and, ultimately, throwing a bottle at the same victim.

“It’s no less than a miracle that he wasn’t seriously and gravely injured by the wounds.

“He clearly has been badly traumatised, and it can only be hoped that the conclusion of these proceedings might provide some opportunity for him to enjoy a more speedy recovery than has happened so far.

Addressing James Coward, Judge Clayson added: “What makes things so much worse as far as you’re concerned, is your previous conviction for possession of a knife in a public place in 2014.

“The carrying of knives in a public, particularly by young men for the purpose of causing injury if it’s thought the need arises, has become incredibly common and is leading to a very large number of injuries.”

He continued: “It is a thousand pities you didn’t learn any lessons from your visit to court in 2014. You will have a long time to reflect on this occasion on what lessons you should learn so when you are released you will be in a position, hopefully, to exist in a better and less anti-social way than you have managed so far.”

Judge Clayson told Ryan Coward that his crime was different to that of his brother’s, in that he did not carry or use a knife that night, and had no previous convictions.

But he added: “You were involved in punching the victim repeatedly at the time he sustained his injuries and at the end of it all took a bottle and threw it at him.”

He also told the pair: “It is clear you have the support of your family you have let down so badly and it’s only to be hoped you both turn yourselves around and don’t offer such disappointment and distress to them, and pain and hurt to others in future by conduct of this type.”