A DRUNKEN young dad who launched a brutal attack on a man in a street in Accrington has been locked up for a year.

Adam Ashworth, 20, threw a microwave at victim Gul-fan Taj, 32, and then beat him up in a back alley.

Mr Taj was rescued after a bouncer walking home in the early hours heard screaming and saw the victim on the ground with the defendant sitting astride him, setting about him with his fists, Burnley Crown Court heard.

The bouncer, Lucas Brewer, stopped the attack and dragged Ashworth away.

Mr Taj had been shouting in pain, crying for help and bleeding.

He was left with a badly swollen face and a large cut on his hand. Ashworth was arrested.

The defendant, from Accrington, but of no fixed address, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm.

Ashworth, who has 52 previous convictions, first appeared in court in 2002 and had breached anti-social behaviour orders.

Sarah Statham, prosecuting, said Mr Taj had been out for the evening with friends and was on his own. He came across the defendant and they started chatting as they walked through the town centre.

The pair went down the alleyway but Mr Taj didn't remember a great deal about the assault.

He recalled the defendant sitting on top of him, punching him.

Miss Statham said Ashworth was later arrested and said he did not remember a lot about that night as he had been drunk.

Alexandra Simmonds, for Ashworth, said it would appear alcohol was the root of all his offending and the offence wouldn't have happened if he had not drunk to excess.

The defendant had done a lot of thinking and reflecting in custody and migh finally be showing signs of growing up.

He had a two-year-old son and knew he had let him down by spending the last two Christmases in prison.

Miss Simmonds continued: “I accept the injuries were unpleasant and painful, but fortunately they were not particularly serious.”

Sentencing, Judge Beverley Lunt told the defendant, said: “It’s very lucky for you that the injuries that this man suffered were not more severe.

"You know the courts won’t tolerate violence like this on the streets and a prison sentence must follow.”