THE window of a takeaway was smashed by a man who claimed he was trying to get away from a knife-wielding thug.

Robert Reid, 21, of Rathan Road, Urmston, faced a charge of criminal damage at Trafford Magistrates Court on Tuesday May 10.

The court heard how, at around 3.20am on April 30, Reid had started banging on the window of Pinocchios, in Cross Street, Sale, shouting for the staff, who had closed up for the night, to call the police. He proceeded to smash the window of the door with his hand.

When he was arrested, Reid claimed that he had got into a fight after a night out at the Kings Ransom, in Britannia Road, and hid in a nearby garden to get away.

He waited for 15 minutes, and thinking the coast was clear, emerged from the garden. Unbeknownst to him, the men he was fighting with also hid in a garden and came running after him wielding a knife and threatening to stab him.

He said he jumped into the canal to escape the men and was ‘dripping wet’ when he got to Pinocchios takeaway to raise the alarm.

“If the guy had just opened the door or called the police instead of laughing at me,” Reid told the court.

“I was wet through and panicking, being chased by a man with a knife. I am 100 per cent to blame and I thank him for calling the police; I just wish this didn’t have to happen to get to that.”

Reid pleaded guilty to the offence and was given a 12-month conditional discharge. He was also ordered to pay £200 compensation to the takeaway.