THIS is the chilling moment a thug brutally stabs a love rival in a packed pub on Christmas Eve.
Luke Smaje, 23, unleashed the attack on Jack Shaw, 23, as they walked through the crowded boozer to go outside after an argument.
On their way to the exit, Smaje can be seen in the CCTV throwing punches and stabbing Jack in the The Broad Oak pub in Connah’s Quay, North Wales.
North Wales Live reported the defendant had stabbed Jack in a “revenge” attack.
Jack, after being knifed twice and left fearing for his life, phoned his mum to apologise for “ruining Christmas“.
North Wales Police told The Sun that they arrested Smaje at his home in Northop Hall, Flintshire later that evening.
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Mold Crown Court heard the pair had “ill-feeling” leading up to the incident.
This is since Jack had been in an on-off relationship with the defendant’s ex-girlfriend.
It also heard that back in the Spring of 2025, Jack was in Thailand for a Muay Thai training programme, when Smaje back in the UK confronted him online.
When Jack returned to the UK in the autumn to continue his training, Smaje contacted his training campaign manager to ask “if they really wanted someone like him on the team.”
But Jack remained on the team and continued seeing the defendant’s ex.
On Monday, at Mold Crown Court, the Judge Timothy Petts said it appeared Smaje had tried to “get a jump on Mr Shaw by attacking him from behind” before they got out of the pub.
He added: “I suspect he realised he wouldn’t win outside against a martial arts fighter.”
The court heard that it wasn’t until the men were separated and Smaje had left that the Jack realised he’d been stabbed.
He sustained two injuries; one superficial to his sternum and one 4-5cm wound to the abdomen which pierced his liver and caused internal bleeding.
At the Countess of Chester Hospital he called his mother and told her he “didn’t think he was going to make it”.
He also apologised that he’d “ruined Christmas” and told her he loved her.
Jack came out of surgery in the early hours of Christmas Day and went into intensive care for two to three days.
When arrested for the offence, Smaje claimed to officers the victim had been the one to approach him at the bar and alleged he’d threatened to “kill him.”
He said he acted in self defence and that his actions were to “make sure I don’t die,” adding he was operating in “survival mode.”
Smaje, of Broad Oak View in Northop Hall, admitted one offence of wounding with intent and one of having an article with a blade or point.
Given those pleas, the court was told Smaje wished to be sentenced immediately.
But during the hearing Judge Petts was told by the prosecutor she was “still waiting to hear if he will lose his bowels,” and that it is “unclear if he will ever be able to fight again.”
Judge Petts told the court it hadn’t been clear to him before that moment that the injuries had caused such a potentially serious outcome.
He explained his approach to sentence had been “on the basis there was likely to be a good recovery.”
As such, he adjourned the sentencing to Thursday.
He said it is to allow the prosecution to clarify if Jack would make a victim statement or for there to be disclosure of his medical records.
He said to do otherwise would create a risk of over or under-sentencing the defendant.