A MAN who caused "dreadful" facial injuries when he attacked someone with an ashtray has been jailed for 18 months.

Preston Crown court was told that Eric Southworth had lodged at the home of victim James Green for around 10 months before the incident.

The violence occurred after Southworth had been drinking and was asked to leave.

Southworth, 45, of Police Street, Darwen, had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to unlawfully wounding Mr Green on January 4 this year.

Michael Murray, prosecuting, said Mr Green lived on Shetland Close, Blackburn.

He said Southworth was told by Mr Green that he wanted him to leave for good and that led to some unpleasantness.

He said Mr Green went to visit his daughter and when he returned at 10pm Southworth was still there, intoxicated.

Mr Murray said Mr Green was then struck on the left-hand side of his face three or four times.

Mr Green was able to get up. He was bleeding heavily and went to his daughter's home where the police and an ambulance were called. He was treated at Blackburn Infirmary.

He had thirty external stitches and a number of internal ones.

Mr Russell Edmondson, defending, said Southworth accepted he had violently over-reacted to a perceived threat.