A MAN attacked a stranger in Blackburn then pulled a wing mirror off his car, a court heard.

The man responsible was placed on a twelve months community rehabilitation order when he appeared for sentence at Preston Crown Court.

A judge heard that Jonathan Mann had been suffering form schizophrenia, but responded well to treatment.

The 32-year-old of Taylor Close, Blackburn, had pleaded guilty to a charge of common assault and two others of damage. He asked for four further damage offences to be taken into consideration.

Mr Fraser Livesey, prosecuting, said it was February last year when a motorist was in Darwen Street, Blackburn and parked his car.

The defendant knocked on a window of the vehicle.

The driver, who was a stranger to Mann, wound down his window to speak to him and was punched to the right side of the face.

The defendant then pulled off a wing mirror and swore at him.

The victim rang the police on his mobile phone and got out to follow Mann who went on to cause £150 damage by throwing an object through a double glazed window.

The man was still following Mann, describing to police what was taking place.

Police arrived on the scene and found the defendant unsteady on his feet, incoherent and apparently drunk.

Miss Charlotte Holland, defending, said Mann was very distressed at the upset he knew he caused the other man on the date of the offences.

He was now taking a particular medication for his schizophrenia and for the first time appeared to be getting genuine help and assistance from a variety of bodies.