A TEENAGER who stabbed a rival as part of a family feud has been told by a judge he is lucky the injury he caused was not more serious.

Haroon Ahmed knifed Hamza Anwar after a confrontation in a back alley near The Grill takeaway in Blackburn, Preston Crown Court was told.

But while doctors kept Mr Anwar in for observations, after complications developed with his lungs, he had only suffered a five-centimetre wound, the court heard.

Ahmed, of Warrenside Close, Ramsgreave, pleaded guilty to unlawfully wounding Mr Anwar. He was given a 12-month suspended prison sentence and ordered to attend 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days. He must also perform 100 hours community service.

Passing sentence, Judge Beverley Lunt said: "It is very fortunate for you, and for him, that the injury was not a serious one and he has in fact made a fully recovery.

"The fact is that you were 17, and are now 18, and you have one conviction, also dating from last year. There seems to have been period of time when you have gone off the rails, which has resulted in you appearing before these courts twice now."

The judge told Ahmed he needed to "grow up and start behaving" rather than dragging his family to court.

Earlier prosecutor Emma Kehoe said it was apparent that the two young men, and their families, were well-known to each other.

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Mr Anwar had been on his way to meet a friend at The Grill when he came across Ahmed, the court heard.

Ms Kehoe said it was clear that the pair exchanged words, and blows, and the next thing Mr Anwar knew, he was bleeding from his back.

The court was told that he was taken to the Royal Preston Hospital for treatment but discharged after being kept in overnight.

Defence barrister Mark Stuart said his client, who had been hoping to join the Army, had since been offered other employment, depending on the outcome of the case.

"The difficulties between the families, if there were any, appear to have been resolved," he added.