TWO men took the law into their own hands after the partner of one of them was assaulted.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Neil Townsend's partner, a care worker, had been slapped in the face when she asked the group of individuals to be quiet so her elderly patient, who lived next door, could get some sleep.

Basharat Ditta, defending, said Townsend was 'absolutely livid' when his partner came home in a distressed state and had immediately gone to the address with another man, Joseph Andrew McKenna.

Townsend, 40, of Starkie Street, Darwen, admitted a breach of the peace and was bound over to the sum of £50 to keep the peace for 12 months. A charge of using threatening behaviour was withdrawn.

McKenna, 46, of Rose Hill Street, Darwen, pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer and using disorderly behaviour. He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £50 compensation and £35 costs.

Eddie Harrison, prosecuting, said police came across a disturbance in Ivinson Road. Townsend and McKenna were outside shouting towards a first floor flat.

He said: "They were clearly in a highly agitated state and Neil Townsend was alleged to have thrown something at the upstairs window."

He said officers were trying to calm the situation when somebody opened the front door of the flat.

Mr Harrison added: "Both men immediately ran in shouting threats and the man who had opened the door was grabbed by the throat," he said.

An officer who was trying to follow to break up the fight had his foot trapped in the door and a metal draft excluder cut through his boot and punctured his foot.

Mr Ditta said it was accepted that it had not been a pre-meditated act of violence towards a police officer -- but McKenna accepted he had been reckless.