A CUSTOMER in a shop was butted by a man without warning.

Blackburn magistrates were shown CCTV footage of the attack which prosecutor Catherine Allan said was ‘totally unprovoked’.

Sudaqat Ali, 34, of Belfield Road, Accrington, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mazhar Ali.

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He was made subject to a community order for 18 months with a 30 days of rehab, fined £40 and ordered to pay £50 compensation to his victim, £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge.

The CCTV footage showed Ali at the till in the Blackburn Road shop with two other men when the victim came in and stood away from them.

Ali approached and after a brief conversation butted him in the face.

The victim moved behind the counter to get away from Ali and he was ushered out of the shop. Miss Allan said Ali had previous convictions for ABH and GBH.

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said there were issues between the men because of a previous incident. “When my client walked in they recognised each other and he says words were exchanged,” said Mr Taylor. “He had been drinking all day and smoking cannabis.”