A CONVICTED killer, freed from jail on licence, has been sent back to prison to serve the rest of his sentence after he admitted an assault charge.

A court heard that the year following his release from custody, Lee Brindle attacked another man having asked him for a cigarette. After his arrest, he tried to create a false defence in the assault case.

Brindle, 24, of Tuscan Avenue, Burnley, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and of act intended to pervert the course of justice.

He was given 18 months in prison for the offences, but was sent back to jail to serve the outstanding licence of around four years and five weeks concurrent from his original manslaughter conviction.

The assault took place on August 3 last year. Joanna Rodikis, prosecuting, told Preston Crown Court how the defendant attacked a man after asking him for a cigarette and being refused.

She said victim Mark Wylie had to undergo surgery to straighten his nose and was off work around three weeks.

Then while on remand Brindle sent a letter, intercepted by a prison officer, which was aimed at getting others to help him create a false defence in the case.

In April 2000 Brindle had been dealt with for manslaughter. The custody term was later varied on appeal to five and a half years and he was released on licence in October 2002.

Fraser Livesey, defending, said the assault had been an unnecessary offence and Brindle was later fearful of the full repercussions of the licence period being imposed upon him. The defendant had made good progress after his release for the manslaughter sentence and got work. He even acted bravely, going into a burning house of a neighbour of his parents to help.

Judge Raymond Bennett told Brindle: "Some people might think in the circumstances it's a pity you were released before the full sentence was over. I'm sure the victim will think so."