A SOUTHALL man has been jailed for life for stabbing a father-of-three to death in a revenge attack.

Harinder Rattan, 43, was stabbed multiple times in January near his Clarence Street home, sparked by a previous attack that went wrong.

Sanjay Salhorta, 26, who also lives on Clarence Street, was sentenced to life imprisonment at the Old Bailey today, after the court found him guilty on Friday of Mr Rattan’s murder.

In the week before Christmas last year, Mr Rattan was sitting in his car when the door was opened by a man in a hooded top, later found to be Salhorta, who struck him in the face and demanded he get out.

Rattan retaliated by hitting him over the head with a crowbar until he ran off.

Forensic analysis found Salhotra’s blood and DNA on the crowbar.

On the night of his death on Sunday January 4, Mr Rattan left home to go to a local shop at about 9.30pm.

Some time later, he was knifed and left lying in the road, with Salhotra hiding in a nearby alleyway.

He later sought refuge at his friend Inderjit Bhachu’s home in Clarence Street, before they drove to Staines and set fire to Salhotra's clothing.

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Ashwin, of the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: "Harinder Rattan was subjected to a brutal attack for nothing other than for Sanjay Salhotra to save face. Bhachu assisted in the disposing of evidence.

"I am pleased that Salhotra and Bachu now face considerable prison sentences; I hope that this brings some sense of justice to Harinder Rattan's family."

Bhachu, 28, of Clarence Street was today sentenced at the Old Bailey to four years in prison after previously pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice.