A MAN assaulted his estranged wife's dad, who was also his next-door neighbour, during a drunken rant over payment for a horse.

Blackburn magistrates heard Garry Carl Love was also drunk when the police went to speak to him about the incident at 7.30am two days later.

The court was told a failure to provide a specimen for analysis offence was also committed during a period of "melt-down" for the self-employed plasterer.

Love, 34, of Mercer Crescent, Haslingden, pleaded guilty to assaulting Roger Saunders causing him actual bodily harm, failing to provide a specimen for analysis and failing to stop when required by a police officer.

He was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison suspended for 18 months and made subject to a community order for 12 months with 25 days Rehabilitation Activity Requirement. He was banned from driving for 18 months and ordered to pay £500 compensation to Mr Saunders and £128 victim surcharge.

Love was made subject to a restraining order which prohibits any contact with Mr Saunders or his wife for two years or approaching his own property for two years. The court was told the barn conversion was currently on the market.

Deputy District Judge Richard Thompson told Love he was only just persuaded to suspend the prison sentence.

"I am told you were going through a crisis in your life which was causing you to drink," said Deputy District Judge Thompson. "You appear to be a hard working man and you need to put this behind you."

Scott Parker, prosecuting, said the driving offences were committed in Swindon, Wiltshire, in May.

Police were asked to attend a pub following a report of a drunken man refusing to leave. Officers spoke to Love, who was struggling to stand up, and suggested he should leave the area. He agreed and left with a friend but the officers suspected he would return and parked at the top of the street.

They saw Love approach a white Mercedes van parked across from the pub. He opened the van, turned the music on loud and started dancing.

The friend got into the passenger side of the van and Love into the driver's seat and started to drive off.

"The police blocked the road with their vehicle but he mounted the pavement to get round them and drove off," said Mr Parker.

"The officers turned round to follow and shortly after saw two men running from the van. They pulled alongside the defendant and an officer struck him to stop him escaping."

Mr Parker said the assault on Mr Saunders happened outside his home. Love had lived in the barn conversion next-door with his wife and children until the relationship broke down and she moved out.

Mr Love was outside his home working in the garden at about 6pm when he heard Love ranting and raving on the phone.

Two hours later Love came to his front door and was shouting at Mrs Saunders.

"He was talking about some money issues and Mr Saunders came out and suggested it would be better if they spoke the following day," said Mr Parker.

"He rushed past Mrs Saunders and pushed her husband who banged his head on a stone mullion."

Mr Parker said when Mr Saunders pushed the defendant out of the house he was punched repeatedly.

Richard Prew, defending, said his client was making his first appearance before the courts at the age of 34.

"this has been a huge wake-up call for him," said Mr Prew. "In the wake of his relationship break-down he has been drinking to excess and things have got out of control."

He said his client had always got on with his in-laws.

"He is acutely embarrassed to be before the court and embarrassed to be involved in such an unsavoury incident," said Mr Prew.