Two teenagers stabbed in the early hours of New Year’s Day had been told by their attacker to “speak f***ing English”.

The boys, aged 18 and 15, were knifed in Gravesend town centre by Daniel Wray as he was heading home from a celebratory night out with his girlfriend.

The 31-year-old, who was on licence from prison at the time, lashed out with the blade – said to have been found on the ground – in what was described as a “fast-moving” incident, and caused wounds to their abdomen and back.

Both teens had to be taken to a London hospital for treatment and were said to have also suffered psychological harm.

But at Wray’s sentencing hearing on Wednesday, it was accepted by the prosecution he had acted in “excessive” self-defence after he and his partner Ella Coppock were said to have been subjected to “aggressive and untoward remarks” by the youths and then chased down an alleyway.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Ms Coppock was herself still traumatised by events on January 1, having feared “something unspeakable” would happen to her.

Wray had been due to stand trial accused of two offences of wounding with intent but before a jury was sworn in he pleaded guilty to the less serious and alternative charges of unlawful wounding.

The court heard how violence unfolded at around 3am on New Year’s Day after the defendant and Ms Coppock left The Goose pub in King Street.

It was as they reached the Clock Tower in Milton Road that they first encountered 18-year-old Jaroslav Kesel and two 15-year-olds, both of whom cannot be named for legal reasons.

Prosecutor Michael Peters said a verbal altercation broke out between Wray and the three youths, and at one point he swore at them to speak English.

He and Ms Coppock then walked off down East Crescent Road, with CCTV capturing Wray being pulled by his girlfriend into an alleyway.

Mr Peters told the court Wray could also be heard saying “If they get in my face, I swear” as his girlfriend continuously warned “Don’t you dare”.

However, as the couple continued in the direction of Bentley Street, Mr Kesel and his companions followed them.

It was at this point, said the prosecutor, that a second altercation ensued in which Wray picked up a knife from the ground.

“He then stabbed Mr Kesel in the back, stabbed (the second complainant) and then stabbed Mr Kesel for a second time in the stomach,” explained Mr Peters.

The injured youths then ran back into East Crescent Road, with Mr Kesel holding his stomach and screaming for help.

Wray, a former vehicle recovery driver, was said to have chased after the pair, still holding what was believed to be the knife, before fleeing himself.

The dad of two was arrested four days later and gave a ‘No comment’ interview.

Having been taken to King’s College Hospital, the teenagers’ injuries were treated with stitches and staples.

Mr Kesel, whose wounds measured 1cm and 2cm long, was discharged from A&E but the younger victim, whose upper abdomen wound was 2cm in length, remained an inpatient for two days.

In victim impact statements read to the court they described how they had both been left with sleep problems and were fearful of going out alone.

Mr Kesel added he had a “recurring dream” of being stabbed, while his friend described suffering nightmares that his attacker would return and stab him again.

Wray, of Winchester Road, Orpington, was on licence at the time for an offence of controlling and coercive behaviour towards a former partner.

His previous convictions also include ones for battery, affray and threatening with an offensive weapon.

But the court heard when he went out with Ms Coppock to celebrate New Year’s Eve, he was “not anticipating any trouble”.

Shanda McAteer, defending, said the couple were walking home “in good spirits” when they came across the teenagers and “things began to take a wrong turn”.

“They made remarks towards Mr Wray and Ms Coppock of an aggressive nature, they made untoward remarks about Ms Coppock and her appearance, and then began to speak in their own language,” she explained.

“Mr Wray accepts it was at that point he shouted ‘speak f****** English’ and was annoyed about the way they were behaving towards him and Ms Coppock when all they were doing was going home.

“They turned down an alleyway en route to her address and the complainants can be seen (on CCTV) to run down the alleyway in pursuit.

“They can also be seen to throw a bottle towards Mr Wray and Ms Coppock and heard shouting further remarks.

“It’s at this point they began to fear for their safety.”

The court heard Wray’s mobility was affected at the time due to a fall in November last year when he fractured ribs and broke an ankle, so he told Ms Coppock to run while he followed behind at a slower pace.

But with no sign of his girlfriend once he had reached her property, Wray, who had no phone or keys, went looking for her and the boys, only for violence to erupt.

“Given what had taken place and the things said by the complainants, he was fearful for her safety and whereabouts,” added Ms McAteer.

“But there was certainly no intention on his part to cause harm to those two young men and he was effectively trying to fend them off,” added Ms McAteer.

“It was fast-moving, with a lot of pushing and shoving, and he had not realised he had caused the injuries until much later.”

The court heard Wray was two days away from taking college exams when he was arrested and now hoped to rebuild his life, both with Ms Coppock and in the railway industry, on his release.

His remand in prison was also said to have impacted on his children and his girlfriend.

“She found this evening very traumatic…and there was genuine fear that something unspeakable was going to happen to her,” said Ms McAteer.

Jailing Wray for a total of two-and-a-half years, Recorder James Lofthouse said although it was not “precisely clear” what had sparked the incident, he accepted there was “an element of provocation”.

But highlighting the fact the inflicted injuries were not as serious as they could have been, the judge told Wray: “You need to appreciate it was pure good fortune on their part, and on your part.

“An inch or so deeper or to the side and the consequences could have been very different.”

At the end of the hearing, the judge formally imposed not guilty verdicts in respect of the two wounding with intent charges, and ordered that an offence of having a bladed article be left on file.