A man has been sentenced to four and half years in custody for stabbing a teenage boy with a broken bottle in the middle of a road.

Andre MacCarthy, 20, of Francis Road, was jailed for four and a half years in a young offenders' institute at Harrow Crown Court today for the attack in Station Road in September last year.

The court heard how MacCarthy had left an appointment at Connexions on September 3, 2013, where he was getting CV advice, to go and buy cigarettes.

While walking past a bus stop he spoke to the victim, who he had never met before, and a fight broke out.

According to the victim’s statement MacCarthy gave him a dirty look which started the fight.

However His Honour Judge Arran ruled the victim had started the fight after viewing CCTV footage which showed he had thrown the first punch.

The court was shown footage of the pair fighting in the middle of the road before MacCarthy walked away.

He went into Londis shop where he bought cigarettes and a bottle of drink.

The court then saw on the CCTV MacCarthy coming back into shot with a bag in his had walking towards the bus stop, where he saw two of the victim’s friends.

He then smashed the bottle on the bus stop and made his way to the victim.

The pair fought and the victim was stabbed four times. His left lung was punctured and his left elbow later required surgery.

MacCarthy handed himself in to Harrow Police the day after the incident and last month pleaded guilty to wounding with intent.

Prosecution barrister Simon Wild told the court that the doctor on the London Air Ambulance, which attended the scene, was concerned by the injuries.

Defending MacCarthy, Oliver Grimwood said: “His family are deeply shocked he has found himself in this situation and that he is in real trouble.

“He found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time and reacted in the worst possible way.

“He has a great deal of regret the he did not walk away at the time and he has great deal of regret that he caused these injuries.”

The Judge also ruled MacCarthy had not gone to the Londis shop to arm himself and attack the victim a second time.

But he said: “This is a very serious offence and it has had extremely serious consequences and I have to give a custodial sentence.”