A JUDGE who pledged to "wipe the streets clean of drunken, gratuitous violence" allowed three young attackers to walk free from court.

Andrew Shaw, 20, had set about musician Ian Hodgeon in the early hours in Burnley and his friends Kevin White, 17, and Daniel Grimshaw, 18, all "fired up" with too much alcohol, then "piled in".

Their victim was left with a smashed leg, double bust lip and other injuries after the frenzied beating. He had to have 10 weeks off work and felt the assault had changed his life.

The defendants all avoided jail after Judge Michael Byrne said a community sentence was the best way to protect the public and to help them. He said he wanted the trio to reassess their lives.

Judge Byrne told the defendants their behaviour was worth 15 months behind bars and warned if they put a foot wrong that was awaiting them.

He told the court the Home Office had recently targeted the North West as an area where street crime was a particular problem and the courts were going to sweep the streets clean of gratuitous, drunken violence.

The judge went on: "The communities in which we live are entitled to look to the courts to make them safe for people to go about their lawful business."

Shaw, of Scott Street, Burnley, admitted grievous bodily harm, last August. Grimshaw, of Dunoon Street, and White, of Padiham Road, both Burnley, denied the allegation but were convicted by a jury. All three were given an order of 100 hours community punishment and 12 months' community rehabilitation, to include the Think First programme. They must also observe a 90-day curfew, between 8pm and 7am. The defendants were also ordered to pay £400 each in compensation to Mr Hodgeon.

David Temkin, prosecuting, told how Shaw launched an unprovoked attack on Mr Hodgeon as he waited for a taxi. He went to his knees and was attacked by more than one person. A witness told of a frenzied assault as Mr Hodgeon was kicked several times on the ground.

John Woodward, representing Grimshaw, urged the court to make a non-custodial sentence. For White, a window cleaner, Roger Baldwin said: "The defendant has not had a drink since and has learned a very hard lesson."

Representing Shaw, Zoe Nield said he was sorry for his actions and was confident he would never appear before a court again.