TWO men accused of attacking a teen and putting him in a coma got rid of their clothes after learning about his serious condition in the press, a court has heard.

Stuart Hartley and Keiron Chatburn thought Gino Hargreaves, 15, was okay after they saw him being led away from Hancock Street, Blackburn, shortly after the attack on October 30 last year, a jury was told.

But the Witton Park pupil later collapsed from a massive brain haemorrhage and was in a medically-induced coma for eight days.

It was only after reports in the press that he was fighting for his life, and the picture of him on a ventilator was shown in the Lancashire Telegraph, that they realised how seriously he had been injured, the jury was told.

Hartley, 25, of St Thomas Street , Blackburn, and Keiron Chatburn, 30, of Hamlet Close, Blackburn, both deny causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Preston Crown Court was told that it was their friend Richard Gregson who contacted the police.

Gino, of Sandon Street, Blackburn, had been on his way home when he got involved in a disagreement with the three men near Hancock Street.

Mr Gregson, told the jury that Gino’s bragging had been ‘doing their heads in’. He said: “He was drunk. He started getting clever.”

The 30-year-old said Gino left after telling them he was going home to get an AK47 but returned and threw an object at them.

Chatburn shouted ‘get him’ and Hartley gave chase, Mr Gregson said.

Mr Gregson said: “Gino was drunk but he was pretty quick. Stuart threw a beer can at him it missed.”

They both went around a corner, Mr Gregson said.“Stuart said Keiron had stamped on Gino’s head or kicked him and had slapped him around the head”, he added.

Mr Gregson, who has known the two defendants since childhood, said: “I thought Gino had been knocked out. I called them bullies. The next day we saw the road was cordoned off and I thought the little lad had died.

“Stuart told me he got rid of his clothes because he was scared of what was being said in the media.

“Keiron got rid of his clothes too. No one meant to do any harm. "They are not the type of people to go out beating other people up.”

The court has been told that both defendants blame each other for striking Gino.

(Proceeding)