A MAN sleeping on a settee in a Clitheroe house was dragged outside and beaten.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Damien Turner had to have two teeth removed following the unprovoked attack.

Craig Bernard Gratorex, 27, of Glenluce Crescent, Blackburn, was convicted after a trial of assaulting Damien Turner causing him actual bodily harm. He was made subject to a community rehabilitation order with a three month curfew order which requires him to be at his home address between 9 pm and 7 am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. He was also ordered to pay £500 compensation and £200 costs.

Joanne Close, prosecuting, said Mr Turner had been in a relationship with a lady called Charlotte Barry. On the night of the incident he was at a friend's house and they had been talking and drinking lager. Miss Barry came to the house at about 11pm, left after a short while but then came back about half an hour later.

"Mr Turner was half asleep on the settee when he saw her enter followed by her ex-husband and the defendant," said Mrs Close. "Gratorex pulled him off the settee and dragged him outside. Mr Turner was confused and disorientated but did not fight back. He was taken into the street where he was punched about the face and the head."

Mrs Close said Mr Turner did not want any trouble and got on his bike to cycle home.

"He was told to leave the bike because Charlotte had bought it for him and when he tried to leave on foot he was again punched."

She said Mr Turner had suffered a split lip, black eye and a bloody nose. He had two loose teeth and had to pay £85 for dental work.

The magistrates passed sentence after reading pre-sentence reports.