A MAN who fled abroad during his trial on a wounding charge was today given leave by Appeal Court judges to challenge his conviction.

Sajis Sarwar was sentenced to four-and-a-half years by a judge at Preston Crown Court in his absence at the end of his trial in May last year.

Sarwar, 29, of Audley Grange, Blackburn, flew back to the UK from Pakistan a few days ago and gave himself up.

He learned yesterday that he will be able to argue that his conviction should be quashed on grounds that a prosecution witness whose evidence was read out at the trial was later found to have previous convictions.

No date was set for the appeal hearing.