A 26-YEAR-old man has appeared in court two years after being convicted of assault and witness intimidation charges.

Blackburn magistrates heard Darren Barry Lynch had failed to turn up for his trial in October 2012 and after he was convicted in his absence a warrant was issued for his arrest.

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But despite him being arrested for other offences in the meantime the warrant had never been executed.

Lynch, of St Philips Street, Blackburn, was convicted in his absence of assaulting McCauley Eccles and using threatening behaviour and pleaded guilty to threatening a witness.

He was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison suspended for two years, made subject to community supervision for two years, ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work and pay £100 compensation, and £290 costs.

Alex Mann, prosecuting, said after being charged with the assault Lynch approached the victim and threatened to kill him if he contacted the police again or turned up at court.

"That didn't work because the witness did attend for the trial although Lynch did not," said Mrs Mann.

Simon Farnsworth, defending, said Lynch accepted responsibility for the assault but didn't accept all the evidence.

"The offence was in 2012 and almost two years after a warrant was issued he was suddenly arrested and brought to court," said Mr Farnsworth.