AN "IRATE" salesman repeatedly butted a man who insulted his girlfriend and claimed a friend had had sex with her.

Burnley magistrates heard how ex-soldier Gary Chapman, 21, was said to have struck Christopher Knight when the "red mist descended". Mr Knight was said to have claimed the friend as "trying it on" with her.

The prosecution told the court Mr Knight had tried to stop trouble between the defendant and the friend. He suffered a serious two-inch cut in the centre of his forehead and needed medical attention.

Chapman, of Hambledon Terrace, Burnley, admitted unlawful wounding. He was bailed until January 7, for a pre-sentence report and the bench told him all options would be open. He had a previous conviction for a public order offence.

Richard Taylor, defending, said of Chapman, who had spent three years in the army: "The defendant was justified in getting extremely cross, but was not justified in his actions."