A YOUTH who pulled a knife on a man out walking his dog must pay him £150 and may have to apologise to him face to face.

Valerie McMinn, prosecuting at York Youth Court, said that when pet owner James Shepherd tried to fend him off with his walking stick, the 17-year-old pushed him to the ground, causing a 2cm head wound.

The late-evening encounter in Bramham Road, Chapelfields, Acomb, York, began when the youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, blamed Mr Shepherd for the death of the teenager's dog 18 months earlier.

The youth from Acomb, now 18, pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm, carrying a knife in public and stealing a 55p orangeade can in a separate incident from Jackson's store in Beckfield Lane, Acomb, on March 9.

Youth justices ordered him to undertake six months' community rehabilitation and ten hours' reparation which the court heard may include direct contact between him and Mr Shepherd. He must also pay him £150 compensation and the court a £25 fine and £50 prosecution costs.

Ms McMinn said that the youth's dog attacked Mr Shepherd's dog in the summer of 2001 and that when the man grabbed both dogs by the collar and pulled them apart, the youth's dog accidentally choked to death.

At about 11pm on January 24, Mr Shepherd was walking his dog when he passed the youth arguing heatedly with a girl. The youth yelled at the man over the death of his dog, the two exchanged words and the teenager pulled a knife with a three or four-inch blade.

Mr Shepherd struck at the youth's knife hand with his stick, and the youth pushed him to the ground.

For the youth, John Howard said he got drunk on January 24 over the break-up of his long-term relationship. He was arguing with his about-to-be ex-girlfriend when Mr Shepherd walked by.

The teenager had a bad temper. Since January, he had got himself the promise of a job and had met Mr Shepherd through a local youth club without problems.

Updated: 10:42 Wednesday, May 07, 2003