A YOUTH who stabbed another man causing his lung to collapse and leading to an eight-day stay in hospital, has been detained for a total of three years.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Mohammed Qasim Bhatti, 19, was later arrested during the Burnley disturbances in June, when police searching him found a knife with a six-inch blade in his jacket pocket.

The defendant, who gave police false details, told officers they were "racist scum," and a detective constable pointed out to the defendant's solicitors their client was not who he said he was.

Sentencing Bhatti, who had a previous conviction for possessing an offensive weapon, Judge David Pirie said all people who carried knives used them sooner or later. Bhatti, of Abel Street, Burnley, admitted wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm, possessing an article with a blade or sharp point and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

He must first serve the three months unexpired portion of a previous sentence.

Henry Blackshaw, prosecuting, said the defendant stabbed the complainant in his left shoulder with a three and a half-inch knife.

The victim, thinking he was going to be struck a second time, ran off bleeding heavily.

The complainant was detained in hospital suffering a collapsed lung and after his condition later deteriorated, medics had to insert a drain to remove blood from his lung and give him a transfusion.

Mr Blackshaw said the victim was discharged eight days later and the defendant was arrested during the disturbances in the Stoneyholme and Daneshouse areas.

Philip Holden, defending, said custody was inevitable and it was courageous and rare to plead guilty to such a serious offence.

The defendant and the complainant had known each other all their lives and there had been ill feeling between them for a number of years. He had been threatened by the victim on a number of occasions.

Mr Holden said Bhatti mixed with people from a different background than the complainant, there was ill feeling between the two groups and that was Bhatti was carrying the knife when arrested.

Mr Holden added the two met each other by chance, the complainant threw a punch and Bhatti used the knife once.

He accepted his behaviour was over the top and he had no right to use the weapon in the way he did.

At the time of the assault, the defendant had a drink problem and had had about eight alcopops.

The offence took place on the spur of the moment, was a very short incident and mercifully the complainant had made a full recovery.