A MAN who turned up at a shop armed with a stick and assaulted the assistant had sentence adjourned for medical reports.

Burnley magistrates had heard Akbar Shah, 25, had been calling out for the victim's brother, waved the stick violently and headbutted the shop door.

He then tried to punch the victim Sajad Daar and caught him a glancing blow.

Mr Daar said he would rather the defendant get help for his mental difficulties than be prosecuted, it was claimed.

Shah, of Bradshaw Street, Nelson, admitted assault by beating on November 5. He was bailed until January 14, for a psychiatric report.

Sue Campbell, prosecuting, told the court Mr Daar was working in his father's shop in Scotland Road, Nelson, when the defendant arrived carrying a two-foot long stick.

He began waving the stick, was asked to leave and asked the victim to go outside as if he wanted to fight.

Shah waved the stick aggressively, butted the door and as Mr Daar tried to move away, the defendant hit out with his fist, catching him a glancing blow and striking the wall.

Mrs Campbell said the melee attracted the attention of others who came to help and Shah ran away. He was known as a local, details were given to the police and when questioned the defendant admitted causing some disruption in the store.

John Rusius, defending, said Shah, who suffered from depression and epilepsy, had been to a special school and that had carried a stigma for him. He went on: "Things seem to have started to go wrong when his father died when he was younger and he has not been the same since."