A knifeman stabbed a retired Civil Servant three times as he walked home hand-in-hand with his wife, York Crown Court heard.

Simon Christopher Moores, aged 25, today started seven years in jail for the night attack on Malcolm Drake, 60.

His barrister, Steven Garth said doctors were hopeful of sending him to Rampton Maximum Secure Hospital so he could be treated for his personality disorder.

Michael Smith, prosecuting, said that Moores was wearing a flak jacket for the attack and bragged about his crime to a video camera. Police found a recording when they arrested him.

Moores, of Victoria Street, Scarborough pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and wounding.

Recorder David Dobbin said that the sentence had to be longer than normal because Moores represented a "grave danger" to the public.

Mr Smith said that Mr and Mrs Drake was walking home just before 11 o'clock from Scarborough Working Men's Club when Moores called out behind them "give me your money".

They turned to see the robber who again asked for the money and then struck Mr Drake three times.

Only after the assault did the couple realise that the robber was holding an army-style knife.

Mr Drake had to spend three days in hospital recovering from the wounds on his chest, his left arm and his left shoulder blade.

Moores abandoned the knife and flak jacket in a pub car park, but DNA traces of it led police to his door.

Mr Garth said doctors were hopeful that they could treat Moores' severe personality disorder which was a major contributing factor to the offence.

He would undergo a six-month assessment in prison and if this was positive he would be taken to Rampton where he would spend some years undergoing treatment.

Updated: 13:47 Monday, June 11, 2001