SHOPPERS were left struggling to breathe and with streaming eyes after a man used pepper spray during an argument with an acquaintance.

A child in a pram, who was being pushed through the Mall in Blackburn by his older sister at the time the noxious gas was discharged, was among those impacted by the product which had been sprayed into the face of nearby Sadiq Patel.

Preston Crown Court heard yesterday how Salema Issa, 54, had been planning to return a pair of shoes to River Island when he encountered Mr Patel in the street.

The pair, who had a history of animosity, exchanged words before the defendant fled inside the shopping centre, where he was followed by Mr Patel who "faced-off" with him.

Summarising the case Judge Philip Parry said: “Mrs Patel had also come inside and she was trying to pull her husband back.

“You [Issa] then took out a canister of pepper spray from your coat and sprayed it directly into the face of Mr Patel.

“The effects of that were devastating – he couldn’t see anything and his eyes were streaming. You used the spray on him on more than one occasion.

“Part of that spray not only hit Mr Patel, but also Mrs Patel as well as two other passers-by.

“Another member of the public was having difficulty breathing as a result of the spray being deployed.”

In mitigation, Joe Allman described how Issa had "escaped a difficult childhood", fleeing his homeland of Mozambique during conflict, something which had left him with severe post traumatic stress disorder.

The court also heard how he had been the subject of a racist attack in 2001, something which had left his mental health in an even worse state.

He added: “The pre-sentence report poses a constructive approach and I’m going to invite you to follow the spirit of what is said and to impose a sentence that is not of immediate custody.”

Following a trial in February, a jury found Issa had been acting lawfully and in self-defence having been pursued by the Mr Patel during the incident in November 2018.

As a result, he was cleared of four counts of assault and was only dealt with for one count of possession of an offensive weapon.

Judge Parry said: “The jury acquitted you of assault on the basis that you were acting lawfully and in self-defence.”

Issa, of Swallow Drive, Blackburn, was issued an 18-month community order with 15 rehabilitation requirement days attached for having the pepper spray.