TWO Blackburn youths who admitted an assault charge will have to wait until the New Year to learn their fate.

Mohammed Imtiaz Malik, 19, of Queens Road, and Lafit Malik, 18, a civil servant of Montague Street both denied attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to Masood Akhtar.

They pleaded guilty to an alternative charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Fiorella Brereton, prosecuting, said there had been a collision with the complainant as he passed the defendants who were out shopping.

There was an argument and Latif Malik over-reacted. There was joint participation in the

assault.

The complainant sustained five lacerations to the face, swelling to the nose and the back of his head was painful. During the incident Mr Akhtar fell to the floor with one of the assailants.

Sentence was adjourned until January 4 for the preparation of a pre-sentence report. Mohammed Malik was remanded in custody and Latif Malik was granted unconditional bail.

Judge Edward Slinger, sitting at Preston Crown Court, told the duo: "All sentencing options remain open including immediate custody."