Man stole knife from college's kitchen before fight

Daniel Heeley-Luty admitted possession of a blade and affray

A man who stole a 30cm (11.8in) knife from a college's training kitchen to use in a fight has been jailed for two and a half years.

A teacher at Doncaster College pursued Daniel Heeley-Luty when he realised he did not recognise him and that he was not wearing a student lanyard as he was leaning over a cutlery drawer.

The 21-year-old admitted possession of a blade and affray after he ended up in a fight outside the college building with four other men.

Sentencing him at Sheffield Crown Court on Tuesday, Recorder Anthony Kelbrick said things "could have gone horribly wrong" for both Heeley-Luty and the others.

"What you did on that day was extremely frightening for everyone involved," he added.

Followed by the teacher and a member of security staff, Heeley-Luty first went into the college canteen, then left and went around the side of the college building.

The teacher said he had his hand in his trouser waistband, was "bouncing around" and swearing that one of the other men owed him money, the judge heard.

When one of the men threatened to shoot him, Heeley-Luty swiped at him with the kitchen knife, leaving witnesses "astounded" no one was harmed. None of those involved were students at the college.

Six people were arrested following the fight and the college on Chappell Drive was evacuated as a precaution and searched by police.

Heeley-Luty, of no fixed address, was subject to two year-long community orders at the time, one for possessing a bladed article and theft and another for battery.

He called the police on himself at the first incident and officers recovered a potato peeler, which he said he was carrying to defend himself, and stolen Greggs sandwiches.

Richard Davies, prosecuting, said Heeley-Luty had stopped using cannabis in January as it had been making him paranoid and aggressive.

Ed Moss, defending, told the judge of his "unstable" upbringing, mental health difficulties, and personality and learning disorders.

"He is someone who has had difficulties literally from the day he was born," he said.

"His whereabouts as a baby were unknown for eight weeks. His foster parents say this has had an impact upon him."

Constant paranoia

All those involved in assessing Heeley-Luty had found he was vulnerable to exploitation, Mr Moss added, due to his age, inexperience in the prison system and mental health issues.

"He tried to lead a normal life, and accepts he fails in some ways. He has plans for where he goes next and he is not workshy," he said.

"His offending is sliding off the scale in the wrong direction at a rapid rate, and he has a desire to correct that."

Mr Moss said he "constantly" showed traits of paranoia.

He said Heeley-Luty found prison very difficult during remand and was "very much alone, with no associates" inside.

The defendant was also convicted of having a bladed article in a public place in 2022, making this his third crime involving a weapon.

Mr Davies said: "Several staff members [at the college] described fearing for their safety and one described it as 'very traumatic'.

"Multiple staff and students were aware of the knife, and it clearly caused concern."

Recorder Kelbrick said he would not sentence Heeley-Luty as a dangerous offender, given this was his first and only custodial sentence.

Heeley-Luty appeared on a video link from HMP Doncaster wearing a rosary around his neck.

He thanked the judge as his sentence was delivered.

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