A MAN seriously injured his niece's estranged husband after a family bonfire party, a court was told.

Roger Atkinson, 56, who has previous convictions for violent offences, turned up at victim David Loughlin's home in the early hours, headbutted him and then stamped on his face.

Mr Loughlin, told a jury at Burnley Crown Court his jaw was "in pieces," after the attack and he had to hold it in place with both hands.

He was taken to Blackburn Infirmary, where he had surgery and plates put into the injury, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Atkinson, of Blaschomy Square, Colne, was convicted by a jury of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, after a two-day trial. He was remanded in custody for eight weeks for psychiatric reports by Judge Lesley Newton.

The defendant claimed blood on his hand was from his finger which he cut building the bonfire. He claimed Mr Loughlin had been "legless," may have fallen and injured himself or somebody else may have assaulted him.

The court heard that Mr Loughlin, who described himself as "merry drunk," left the party, called briefly at his wife Jane's house and then went home after the party. About five or 10 minutes later, the defendant turned up. He thought Atkinson had come "for a natter," asked him in and Atkinson followed him into the living room.

He said that before anything was said, Atkinson butted Mr Loughlin, knocking him over an armchair and started jumping on his head. He then stamped on Mr Loughlin's face about 10 times, wearing boots or heavy shoes.

Mr Loughlin also suffered a gash to the back of his head, did not know what caused it, but just felt the blow.

When Mr Loughlin returned from hospital, he found a broken mug on the floor and concluded that was what Atkinson must have hit him on the back of the head with.

The defendant told the jury he had just wanted to see if Mr Loughlin was all right and had no reason to attack him at all, had just made a social call and was not angry.