A MAN walking through Oswaldtwistle at 7pm on a Sunday was assaulted by a man wearing a balaclava.

Blackburn magistrates heard there were three other balaclava wearing men waiting in a back alley and the victim believed the plan had been to lure him into the alley and attack him.

Elliot Lee Boothman, 23, of no fixed address, was convicted in his absence of assaulting Zac Miller.

He was sentenced to three months in prison and ordered to pay £150 compensation.

Parveen Akhtar, prosecuting, Boothman was the former boyfriend of the victim's girlfriend.

On the day of the incident Mr Miller was with friends and they were walking towards the Tiger bar in Union Road when he saw four balaclava clad men down a back alley.

One of them approached and challenged him.

"He immediately knew it was the defendant despite not being able to see is face," said Miss Akhtar.

"There was a brief struggle and Mr Miller realised he was bleeding from his eye.

"He said he thought Boothman wanted him to follow him into the alley where the other lads were waiting."

Mr Miller said he couldn't see properly out of his eye for a couple of days but there was no permanent damage.

Gareth Price, defending, said his client had pleaded not guilty to the offence and continued his denial.

"He would have participated in the trial but got the date mixed up," said Mr Price.

"He recognises that he is very much at risk of a custodial sentence."

A warrant was issued for Boothman's arrest/