A LEIGH Indian restaurant chef was stabbed with a large kitchen knife in a row over a TV being played too loudly.

A cut to the man's stomach was so severe his intestines were exposed, Bolton Crown Court was told.

Waiter Aklim Ullah, 18, of Arley Gardens, Burnley, was found guilty of intentional wounding by a jury.

Joseph Ganner, prosecuting, said the chef, Pear Ali and Ullah both worked at the Passage to India restaurant in Leigh town centre.

It was the custom for staff to sleep on beds in a room over the restaurant after the restaurant had been open late.

In the early hours of September 30 Mr Ali was woken by Ullah and another waiter who had switched on the TV. There had been an argument and a scuffle between the two men before Mr Ali went out.

He was followed by Ullah, armed with a kitchen knife, and they clashed near Leigh bus station.

Mr Ali was severely cut. Two taxi drivers who went to his aid undid Mr Ali's jacket to see a large hole in his stomach and his intestines exposed, Mr Ganner said.

Meanwhile, Ullah had run back to the restaurant and changed his bloodstained shirt. When first questioned by the police, Ullah claimed that he had been attacked by muggers, Mr Ganner said.

In court Ullah said Mr Ali had attacked him with the knife. He said he got the knife off Mr Ali and then stabbed him in self-defence. Sentence on Ullah was adjourned for a pre-sentence report.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.