A CAR owner was attacked and ended up having to have his arm in plaster after he confronted a man climbing through the vehicle window.

Burnley magistrates heard how Philip Dickens was punched in the face by ex-convict Michael Pinder and hit Pinder back in self defence. Pinder then shouted to an accomplice: "Get the blade out," before the second man also struck Mr Dickens.

Mr Dickens suffered two broken bones in his knuckles, had his arm put in plaster and had difficulty working after his ordeal on January 3. Pinder, then on prison licence, struck again two weeks later, threatening another car owner in front of his partner and six-year-old child after being caught pulling a stereo from the victim's dashboard.

Pinder, 20, of Curlew Gardens, Burnley, admitted common assault, two allegations of interfering with a vehicle, two of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour and one theft charge.

He was remanded in custody until March 17 for a drug treatment and testing order assessment but the bench told him all options were still open.

Eddie Harrison, prosecuting, told the court Pinder claimed he was collecting a drug debt when he was caught pulling out the first stereo - even though the victim had no involvement with drugs.

It was only after his arrest for that offence that the incident involving Mr Dickens came to light.

He told how after discovering the theft and being attacked, Mr Dickens managed to grab Pinder's baseball cap which was handed over to the police and was linked to the defendant by DNA testing.

Mark Williams, defending, said Pinder was now drug free. All his offending had been to get money for drugs.