A TEENAGER slashed his girlfriend’s father with a knife after the older man tried to make a citizen’s arrest.

Bolton Crown Court heard how Stuart Farrimond and his father, Peter, went in search of his daughter, Ella, on the afternoon of May 21 last year.

The teenager had been in a volatile relationship with David Pearson and there was a court bail condition banning 19-year-old Pearson from contacting the girl.

But on May 17 Mr Farrimond had spotted them together in a car and informed police.

Robert Smith, prosecuting told the court that, four days, later Mr Farrimond saw a text on his daughter’s phone appearing to show Pearson was attempting to get in touch with her.

After his daughter left her home Mr Farrimond and his father went searching for her and saw Person sat in his car in Marlbrook Drive, Westhoughton.

“He [Mr Farrimond] went to the driver’s door and told the defendant that he was making a citizen’s arrest,” said Mr Smith.

“Mr Farrimond pulled the defendant out of the vehicle and, ultimately, there was a scuffle.”

Pearson broke away and went into a house.

“The defendant decided to take a knife from the kitchen and came back outside and approached Mr Farrimond and his father,” said Mr Smith, adding that Pearson was angry, shouting and swinging the knife while shouting, “Come on, try it now, try it now.”

Pearson swung out with the knife, slashing the sleeve of Mr Farrimond’s jacket and leaving him with a 2cm gash in his arm which was treated in hospital with steristrips.

The defendant stopped the attack but then returned a short time later with another knife and scissors, making derogatory comments about Mr Farrimond’s daughter.

Pearson, now aged 20, of Southover, Westhoughton, was due to stand trial over the incident.

But as the trial was due to start, he changed his plea and admitted causing grievous bodily harm. Mark Friend, defending, stressed that, until a year ago, Pearson was a person of good character.

But the court heard that the background to his offending was the relationship with Miss Farrimond, which had begun in Summer 2016.

The relationship was volatile and Pearson committed offences against her and her friends.

“He now looks back on the events of 2017 with some dismay,” said Mr Friend.

“He recognises his response to the behaviour towards him [by Mr Farrimond] was entirely inappropriate.”

Recorder Geoffrey Lowe sentenced Pearson to 15 months in prison, suspended for 15 months, ordered him to undertake 220 hours of unpaid work and participate in 20 days of rehabilitation activities.

He told Pearson: “This is an unusual case and an exceptional course I have taken.”

He added: “What is clear to me is, dealing with you here today, the court is probably dealing with a different young man than went onto that street.

“You must appreciate that behaviour of this type is simply intolerable.”