'You nearly lost your life': Drug dealer who almost died after being stabbed at Leeds Carnival locked up for possession of 'fearsome' knife during attack

Blake Berkley spent weeks in intensive care after suffering near-fatal wounds during the attack at the event in Chapeltown on August 25, 2019.

Leeds Crown Court heard officers on duty at the carnival were made aware that Berkley had been "stabbed up".

The 20-year-old needed life-saving medical treatment but was also found in possession of a knife.

Temitayo Dasaolu, prosecuting, said the knife had the words 'any time, any thing, anywhere' etched into the handle.

The court heard Berkley was on bail at the time of the incident after he was arrested for drug dealing in October 2018.

Officers searched Berkley at Stainbeck police station and found him in possession of cocaine, ketamine and MDMA worth £320.

He was also in possession of two mobile phones and two sets of business cards offering to supply drugs on a 24-hours basis.

"This was at Leeds Carnival where, the Crown submit, there was a risk of serious disorder given the number of people who attend these events."

Berkley, of Kendal Close, Woodhouse, Leeds, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, MDMA and ketamine with intent to supply and possession of an offensive weapon.

Charles Blatchford, mitigating, said Berkley was "being led astray" by others at the time of the offences.

He said: "It is deeply troubling but Mr Berkley has addressed, because of what happened to him that night, the poor thinking skills he had at that time.

"He was very close to death and was put in intensive care for a number of weeks.

"That has affected how he thinks."

Read more: Convicted Leeds murderer left woman with collapsed lung and fractured ribs in horror attack months after 35-year jail term releaseBerkley was sent to a young offender institution for 27 months.

Recorder Darren Preston said: "You do not need me to tell you why knife offences are so serious because you ended up on the wrong end of it that night.

"You nearly lost your life."

"It is perfectly plain that an immediate custodial sentence is the natural consequence for these offences.

"It is far too serious for a non-custodial alternative or a suspended sentence,

"I would be failing in my duty if I did not impose anything other than immediate detention."