A MAN attacked a “longstanding friend” as he sat on a bench in Burnley town centre.

Blackburn magistrates heard Daniel Taylor followed up with what witnesses say were a series of ‘hammer blows” to the other man’s head.

Taylor, 47, of Reed Street, Burnley, admitted to assaulting Gary Cochrane and was bailed for a pre-sentence report.

Antonia Walters, prosecuting, said there had been an argument between Taylor and the homeless victim, in Burnley town centre.

Mr Cochrane was sitting on a bench when Taylor approached and punched him on the back of the head.

“The aggrieved lay on the floor and the defendant landed six or seven what witnesses described as hammer blows to the back of his head,” said Miss Walters.

She said witnesses called the police to the incident outside McDonald's but Taylor had left the scene. They viewed CCTV from the Boot Inn across the road which enabled them to identify Taylor.

Aftab Bakhat, defending, said his client had been addicted to heroin since he was 16 years old and was currently on a methadone prescription.

“There are also alcohol issues,” said Mr Bakhat. “The aggrieved and my client are long-standing friends and their friendship has been resumed.”