A CLITHEROE man who deliberately kept out of arguments between his new partner and her ex-husband eventually felt he had to speak out.

And Blackburn magistrates heard that words led to physical confrontation and an assault on the ex-husband by Russell Pinder.

But defence solicitor Andrew Church-Taylor said the confrontation had been very much two-sided and either or both men could have been charged.

Pinder, 36, of Peel Street, Clitheroe, pleaded guilty to assaulting Jason Taylor.

He was given a conditional discharge for nine months and ordered to pay £50 compensation and £60 costs.

Neil White, prosecuting, said Pinder had grabbed the other man by the neck and pushed him against a wall.

He was shouting abuse and grabbed him again, this time pushing him to the floor where he stamped on his head.

Mr Church-Taylor said there were two sides to every story and this was no exception.

He said that since his partner Sandra had split from Mr Taylor there had been ongoing problems.

Mr Taylor had been made subject to a restraining order at one time and because of the difficulties there was a period when he had to collect his daughter from his estranged wife outside the police station.

He said: "My client did not get involved throughout all this.

"On the night of this incident Mr Taylor made some comments which led my client to decide the time had come when he had to say something."