A MAN who carried out a baseball bat attack that fractured the victim's jaw in two places has been jailed for three years.

Khalil Ahmed, 23, of Clegg Street, Brierfield, was found guilty by a jury of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and violent disorder.

Judge Robert Brown recalled the facts of the trial before passing sentence at Preston Crown Court yesterday.

The incident took place on September 12 last year on Higher Reedley Road, Burnley, following a car accident.

Judge Brown said: "When you got out of your car, you had a baseball bat and you used that to attack Shabar Razzaq and you beat him severely causing him severe injury.

"He will live for the rest of his life with the scars of that attack."

He said metal plates were inserted in Mr Razzaq's jaw which had been broken in two places.

Judge Brown said others joined in the attack. He said Ahmed was being sentenced on the basis that against the background of an old family feud, he had taken the opportunity on the night to inflict very serious injury and damage to a person who came from the opposite side of that feud.

The jury had rejected Ahmed's claim he had acted in self-defence and his denials that he had not used the baseball bat.

Judge Brown said he had taken into account the fact Ahmed was married with three young children, his previous good character and work record and his high standing in the community. He also took into account the fact that the month before the offence he had been the victim of an attack which required him having 11 stitches to his head and that had damaged him physically and psychologically.

Speaking after the hearing, Detective Sergeant Dave Groombridge, of Pennine Division's Hate Crime Unit, said Ahmed received a 'right and proper sentence."

He said: "This sends out a message to the communities of Burnley and Nelson that the police will respond to any incidents of violence especially where weapons are used and we will not tolerate such behaviour."