A 24-YEAR-OLD shop assistant attacked a customer who had come in to collect a carpet cleaner.

Blackburn magistrates heard the 73- year-old victim was on his way home from a hospital appointment because of a heart condition. And he was terrified he was going to suffer a heart attack after being struck with a clipboard and then knocked to the floor.

John Simon Lloyd, of Albert Street, Brierfield, pleaded guilty to assaulting Brian Whitham. He was made subject to community supervision for eight months and ordered to pay £100 compensation and £145 costs.