A 25-year-old man was alleged to have produced a knife and threatened a man he had just punched about the face and head.

But Blackburn magistrates heard that David George Greaves denied having a knife and the allegation would have to be proved by evidence given to a special hearing. Greaves, of Airey Cottages, Cow Hill, Grimsargh, pleaded guilty to assaulting Lee Haworth.

The case was adjourned until December 12 after defence solicitor Nigel Holden said that if true , the production of a knife would be a seriously aggravating feature of the assault.