A DENTIST who dragged a man out of his surgery has been acquitted of assault.

Blackburn magistrates heard Holger Held believed the other man, who was the father of a former employee, had some kind of a bladed weapon.

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Barry Snowden, who had gone to the surgery to ask for money he claimed was owed to his daughter, accepted he had a pair of scissors with him.

But he said he had forgotten they were in his pocket after he had used them earlier in the day to cut the fat off his bacon.

He denied producing them in the waiting room of the Netherwood surgery on Preston New Road, Blackburn.

Mr Held, 55, of Crosshill Road, Blackburn, pleaded not guilty to assaulting Mr Snowden and was acquitted after a trial.

Clearing the German national, District Judge James Clarke said Mr Snowden had admitted going to the surgery to confront Mr Held and disrupt business.

District Judge Clarke said: “He also admitted attending the surgery on a previous occasion and following Mr Held outside and shouting at him. On May 19 Mr Held felt threatened to such an extent that he instructed a member of staff to dial 999. He also left the building to avoid confrontation.”

District Judge Clarke said that when Mr Held returned to the surgery he believed he saw a blade in Mr Snowden’s hand.

Judge Clarke said: “He described it as an instinctive reaction out of fear and concern and not a calculated response.”

Speaking after the hearing, Mr Held said he was relieved his ordeal was over.

He said: “This was my first experience of the criminal justice system and it was not pleasant.

“Being arrested and taken to court makes you feel like a criminal.

“Even though I felt justified in what I did, there was always an element of doubt if the judge would see it the same way. I am relieved and glad it is all over and I just want to put it behind me and move on.”

The court had previously heard that Mr Held left the surgery when he was told Mr Snowden was there. A member of staff later told him the police were not prepared to attend.

When he returned he claimed he saw some kind of blade in Mr Snowden’s hand.

He admitted kicking out at Mr Snowden’s hand but couldn’t explain why the other man ended up on the floor.

He then dragged Mr Snowden out of the waiting room.

When Mr Held came back in he had the scissors and put them on the reception counter.

A member of staff had already contacted the police again and told them the situation had ‘escalated’.