A 26-YEAR-OLD man launched violent, unprovoked and totally motiveless attacks on two pensioners, one of whom suffers from angina and had to be rushed to hospital.

Blackburn magistrates heard that a 67-year-old woman was punched in the face after getting off a bus near Hoghton Tower.

Minutes later a 74-year-old retired magistrate was also punched in the face as he was working in his front garden further up the road at Riley Green.

Their attacker, Richard Davies, was eventually arrested after a violent struggle with a police officer on the slip road to the M65.

Davies, 26, of Bolton Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to two charges of assault and using threatening behaviour.

He was committed in custody for sentence at Preston Crown Court after the magistrates said their powers of 12 months imprisonment were insufficient.

Announcing the decision, the chairman of the bench said they had been two unprovoked attacks on vulnerable members of the community which they looked on as being extremely serious.

Pat Bramley, prosecuting, said the most concerning thing about the attacks was not the level of injury but the fact that the attacks were on elderly people who were simply minding their own business.

She said: "They were bothering no one when this man perpetrated gratuitous attacks for which even he could offer no explanation."

The court heard that the first attack happened at about 7pm when Freda Ormerod had got off a bus close to Hoghton Tower.

Davies approached her, punching her "forcibly in the face."

Shortly after, the court heard, Ronald Whalley was working in his front garden when he was startled by someone appearing from behind him. Davies punched him, causing Mr Whalley's legs to buckle.

Davies was chased from the scene by a man who responded to Mr Whalley's cries for help.

Michael Blacklidge, defending, said Davies accepted everything that had been said by the prosecution.