A MAN has been cleared of an attempted murder charge after a knife attack.

Ray Marsden was also acquitted of a charge that he had wounded Derek Bowes, with intent to do him grievous bodily harm. But a jury at Preston Crown Court convicted him of unlawful wounding.

The 35-year-old of Wellington Road, Blackburn, now faces sentencing on January 9 after a report has been drawn up by the probation service.

During the four-day trial the prosecution claimed Marsden stabbed Mr Bowes in the side as he lay on his settee at home in Cutler Close, Blackburn, on May 27. He was taken to hospital with life threatening injuries and had a wound to his body and a punctured lung. It was said Mr Bowes saw the defendant holding a steak knife, dripping with blood and at some point he told the victim: "You are going to die." Mr Bowes got out of the ground floor flat by diving through a window.

But Marsden said Mr Bowes had launched at him with a barbecue fork, saying he was going to kill him. He also claimed Mr Bowes was behaving "like a lunatic".

Marsden said he had been in fear of his life and had himself landed on the knife when he stumbled. He went on to claim that Mr Bowes later grabbed hold of the knife.

The defendant was remanded in custody to await sentence.