A VIOLENT confrontation between local youths and asylum seekers erupted after an alleged sex attack by a 14-year-old boy.

Youths in the Livesey area of Blackburn chanted racist abuse following the boy's arrest before throwing a brick through the window of a house where an asylum seeker, his wife and four children were sleeping.

Later in the evening, asylum seekers took to the streets shouting abuse at neighbours and making a distasteful reference to September 11, Blackburn magistrates heard.

A teenage asylum seeker was allegedly attacked as she returned home from a relative's house at about 10pm on Friday and the trouble started after the boy's arrest the following day.

Magistrates heard that the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, currently faces a charge of indecent assault.

But Neil White, prosecuting, said consideration was being given to changing it to attempted rape.

Miroslav Drapak, 43, of Scotland Bank Terrace, Josef Dzuga, 33, of Brookway, and Stevan Lakatos, 46, of Brookway, all pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour and were each given a conditional discharge for 12 months. Dzuga also pleaded guilty to assaulting John Gerrard and was ordered to pay him £50 compensation. Charges of affray against all three were discharged.

Americo De Souza, 28, also of Brookway, pleaded not guilty to affray and possessing an offensive weapon, a kitchen knife. He was remanded on bail until November 18.

Mr White said that considerable tension culminated in the brick being thrown through Drapak's window.

"Unfortunately these were not isolated incidents," said Mr White.

"The people living in that area who are making asylum applications have had problems with youths in the past.

"The incident on Friday and what happened on Saturday appear to have been the last straw. Unfortunately these men went about dealing with the situation in a way that was totally inappropriate."

He said that residents who came to investigate the disturbance heard the defendants shouting "England, America boom, boom".

Mr Gerrard was standing at his front door when Dzuga approached and asked what his problem was.

Mr Gerrard said "Nothing mate" and Dzuga punched him in the face, he said.

Paul Schofield, defending, said none of his clients had any previous convictions and said that during their time in England had done everything they could to avoid trouble.

"They simply want their asylum applications dealt with as quickly as possible," he said.

He said Drapak had been in the country since August after fleeing racists and fascist organisations who persecuted his family because of the colour of their skin.

Dzuga had been in the country for five months and had also been the victim of violence in his own country.

Lakatos has been in the country nearly four years since fleeing his home country where he had been stabbed on several occasions.

Mr Schofield said police described the incident on Friday night as a "dreadful assault".

He added: "Family and friends were all very upset but they wanted to continue living in a peaceful way.

"However, it appears the arrest on Saturday was the catalyst for the trouble my clients didn't want.

"They had been assured by the police that if there was any further trouble they would attend immediately but they say there was some delay.

"They were angry at what was going on and concerned for the safety of their families."

Mr Schofield said all four defendants had been kept in custody since Saturday night and arrangements had been made for them to be re-housed.

The indecent assault charge against the boy was adjourned until next Tuesday.