A MAN launched a “revenge” attack after a chance meeting in the street.

Blackburn magistrates heard Lee Andrew Thompson asked the other man why he had stabbed him before getting out of the car and punching him.

And Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said it was true the aggrieved had stabbed the defendant.

Thompson, 30, of Lime Avenue, Oswaldtwistle, was convicted after trial in his absence of assaulting Anthony Reeves on January 26, 2018.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, was walking along the street at about 12.30pm when a car pulled up alongside with Thompson in the passenger seat. He went over to speak to the defendant who asked; “Why did you stab me?”

Thompson then got out of the car and punched the other man, knocking out two of his teeth.

“It is true the aggrieved in this case had stabbed the defendant previously,” said Miss Allan.

Gareth Price, defending, said it had been a chance meeting and his client had not been out looking for the aggrieved.

“My client was stabbed by the other man in 2017,” said Mr Price. “The aggrieved has pleaded guilty to that and is due to be sentenced at Preston Crown Court on May 28.”

Mr Price said his client had pleaded not guilty on the basis he thought he was going to be assaulted and had acted in self-defence. “The magistrates did not accept that but they did accept that only two punches were thrown,” said Mr Price

Thompson was sentenced to 26 weeks in custody, suspended for 12 months, made subject to a community order for 12 months with 20 days' rehabilitation activity requirement and ordered to pay £500 compensation.