A FALLING-out between neighbours over a woman ended up with a man suffering a knife wound, a court heard.

Victim Stuart McFadyen was accosted by up to four people outside his flat in Nelson after inflammatory texts had been swapped regarding his girlfriend, Burnley Crown Court was told.

MORE TOP STORIES:

He answered the door to be confronted by at least three people, including his neighbour Paul Loughridge, according to prosecutors.

Initially Mr McFadyen had sand from a nearby fire bucket thrown in his eyes before he managed to fight back.

Stephen Parker, prosecuting, said the householder was knocked to the ground, where he was kicked by one of the trio.

He then noticed Loughridge brandishing a kitchen knife but managed to deflect the weapon, causing a cut to his hand which bled profusely.

Eventually Mr McFadyen managed to get away from his attackers, but not before Loughridge threw a plant pot at him, the court heard.

Loughridge, 40, of Netherfield Road, Nelson, admitted to a charge of wounding following the incident on June 13 last year, for which he was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

Passing sentence, Judge Beverley Lunt said he must also undertake 30 days of rehabilitation activities under the supervision of the probation service.

The offence had been committed against a convoluted background involving both parties, said Judge Lunt, which was difficult for anyone to understand.

But the judge told the court she had been persuaded to suspend his sentence after learning how he had sought assistance from Lancashire Care NHS Trust for his mental health difficulties and had the support of his extended family.

Anthony Longworth, defending, said that psychiatric reports prepared on his client showed that he was vulnerable and had a history of mental health difficulties, as well as suffering from epilepsy.

He had suffered brain damage, as the result of an accident, which had affected his approach to life, and he also lived with a pronounced stammer, which had also hampered his progress, the court heard.

Mr Longworth said it was accepted that Loughridge presented a 'medium' risk of harm to others through his offending but the defendant had taken steps to turn his life around.