A 21-year-old man, Daniel Balazs, who stabbed the new partner of his ex-girlfriend to death has been sentenced to life imprisonment.

The suspect who is from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, plunged a 12cm knife into father-of-two, Daniel Micska’s chest last August. He was rushed to hospital but was pronounced dead around 40 minutes after the attack.

Balazs, who claimed he stabbed Daniel, 28, in self-defence, fled the scene and travelled to London before handing himself in.

It took a jury just 50 minutes to find Balazs guilty of murder after a trial at Sheffield Crown Court and he was sentenced to a minimum of 20 years in prison this week.

In a statement released by police, Daniel’s heartbroken family said: ‘Daniel was a loving brother and father, and when he died, he left behind two young children, who, I now have to watch grow up without their dad.

‘Although, this verdict will not bring back my brother, I would like to thank those involved in bringing justice for Daniel and for the support they have offered throughout the investigation.

‘We have now received the answers that we needed to grieve as a family. Daniel will be greatly missed and forever in our thoughts.’