A KNIFEMAN who brought fear to part of Accrington in an outburst of anger has been locked up for a total of 18 months.

Burnley Crown Court heard how 'immature' young dad Waqass Khan, 20, had run through the streets in his pyjamas armed with the blade, chasing his one-time friend and former schoolmate into a shop, after something he had been told.

The victim went straight to hide in the shop's storeroom, the defendant still pursued him, a struggle followed in the storeroom and the victim suffered a three centimetre cut to his hands. The knife was never recovered.

Khan, of College Street, Accrington, who has been on remand, had admitted wounding and affray on Christmas Day.

Judge Beverley Lunt imposed 12 months for the knife offence and added six months on top for the affray. The defendant, who has three convictions on his record, will serve his term in a young offenders institution. Conor Quinn, defending, described Khan as a ‘silly young man’, who was impulsive and still immature. His only adult conviction was for not paying a train fare.

Up until the offences, the victim and defendant had been friends. They had grown up together, had been to school together and had known each other for 15 years.

Mr Quinn said Khan did not intend to cause the cut to the man’s hand, but to frighten him.

The barrister said: “Custody perhaps has been the best thing for him. He has had time to reflect on how he got there and the impact this offence has had on others.”

Mr Quinn said Khan had used his time in custody constructively, had been to anger management, managing emotions and peace-making courses and had passed them all. He wanted to begin work with his father and travel back at weekends to see his young daughter.

Passing sentence, Judge Lunt said she had seen Khan’s behaviour on DVD several times. She said: “You haven't attacked him with the knife. I take that very much into account.

“None of this would have happened if you hadn’t been chasing a man about the streets when you had a knife in your possession."