Bad break for Great Harwood teenage thug

Arsalan Islam was one of three drunken youths who rampaged through Blackburn town centre assaulting and threatening people.

Blackburn magistrates heard Islam punched one totally innocent bystander for no reason and used threatening behaviour towards other people, some of it racially aggravated.

But the trainee hairdresser got his comeuppance when a passer-by took a stand against him when he saw Islam picking on an 11-year-old boy.

The court was told public spirited Mark Feeley told Islam he didn’t want to fight him but didn’t agree with what he was doing. Islam attempted to punch Mr Feeley but was made to miss. Mr Feeley, in self defence, grabbed him by the throat, put a leg behind Islam’s legs and pushed him onto the floor.

As a result of the fall Islam suffered a double fracture of an arm which required the insertion of metal plates.

Islam, 18, of Park Street, Great Harwood, pleaded guilty to assaulting James Pearson, racially aggravated threatening behaviour and threatening behaviour.

He was locked up for eight weeks by District Judge Jane Goodwin who said the kind of behaviour he had displayed on a Saturday afternoon would not be tolerated.

“This was appalling behaviour in the town centre,” said District Judge Goodwin.

“You inflicted injury on one member of the public for no reason at all and other members of the public were upset and concerned by what you and your friends were doing.

“Mr Feeley was so concerned he felt he had to intervene, whatever the consequences may have been for him,” she added.

Parveen Akhtar, prosecuting, said when Mr Feeley had dealt with Islam the other youth decided it was time to leave. He was later detained and has been dealt with by the youth court.

Peter King, defending, said his client had been hopelessly intoxicated and had little memory of the incidents.

“He accepts his behaviour was distasteful, unacceptable and loutish,” said Mr King. “He got his comeuppance when Mr Feeley put him on the floor.”