A MAN who 'accidentally' stabbed the manager of a supermarket with a 'dirty' needle has been jailed.

Nicholas John Fallon, 36, of Cleveland Street, Colne, appeared at Burnley Crown Court over video link and pleaded guilty to assaulting Stephanie Moss occasioning her actual bodily harm. He had always denied wounding Ms Moss with intent to cause her grievous bodily harm and the prosecution decided against proceeding with that charge.

At an earlier hearing Fallon pleaded guilty to shoplifting during the same incident which happened at the Colne Lidl store on September 28. That was in relation to £75 worth of steak.

Defending, Phil Holden said it was always Fallon's case that the incident with the needle was not deliberate.

Judge Beverley Lunt also told Fallon to pay the statutory surcharge to support victim services.