A NIGHT out in Barnoldswick ended with a man suffering two black eyes, three cracked teeth and a suspected broken nose.

Burnley Magistrates heard how victim Richard Eastwood, who had been out with his partner for a meal and a drink, ended up on the ground, having the "boot put in", during the late night town centre melee.

Mr Eastwood, who the defence claimed had assaulted his girlfriend, still had breathing problems as a result of his injuries and was also awaiting dental treatment.

A 17-year-old from Barnoldswick admitted affray last June 28 and was referred by the bench to the youth offending team for six months. He must also pay £200 compensation and £25 costs.

Liam David Parker, 18, of Gisburn Street, and Lee Steven Myers, 19, of Blakeley Crescent, both Barnoldswick, each admitted the same allegation and were bailed until April 10 for pre-sentence reports. The bench said they were ruling out custody.

David Macro, prosecuting, said the victim and his partner ended up at the Railway pub but had a row as she wanted to go on somewhere else but Mr Eastwood was working the next morning.

As they walked down Skipton Road, the couple heard raised voices by the church. An empty bottle landed close by and Mr Eastwood saw a youth standing on a grass verge on the other side of the road.

The victim picked up the bottle and threw it back. Four or five other lads then came out of the darkness.

Mr Eastwood's girlfriend to disappear and she went to a nearby kebab shop. Mr Eastwood then joined her but was worried about how they would get home past the gang.

Mr Macro said the victim went to try and reason with the lad who had thrown the bottle and was hit in the face by another youth. The complainant then felt more blows and ended up on the ground dazed.

He managed to get to his feet, joined his partner and the couple went straight to her house. Mr Eastwood thought he had a broken nose, but that was not confirmed.

The prosecutor said the defendants were arrested and accepted they had had some part in the attack.

Myers claimed Mr Eastwood had been pushing his "wife about" and he had shouted to him to stop and called him a wife beater.

He said fists had been flying everywhere and he remembered kicking the victim on the floor maybe once or twice.

Parker accepted his behaviour had been "bang out of order" and that on a video which captured the fracas, he could be seen putting the boot in more than once. The 17-year-old told officers he had been in the scuffle.

Brian Irlam, defending, urged the court to adjourn for pre-sentence reports and said Mr Eastwood had been "tarnished with a record of violence in the past."