A FATHER-of-three who smashed a man's nose in a taxi office melee has been jailed for 12 months.

Burnley Crown Court heard roofer Alan McKenzie, 31, who had had too much to drink, kicked his victim in the face while he was on the floor.

Sentencing him, Judge Raymond Bennett, who has hit out at the number of offences caused by alcohol, said there seemed to be an idea that a good way of spending an evening was to get as drunk as possible.

He added the defendant had had a "shaky start", but had not been in trouble for eight years.

McKenzie, of Fernlea Avenue, Oswaldtwistle, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm.

The court was told that in March the defendant and the victim were in the taxi office. The complainant said he was asked for a cigarette, he refused and a few seconds later he was punched. He said he remembered little after that.

The victim landed on the floor and was kicked twice in the face while lying there.He was left crouching on the floor and was taken by ambulance to Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

He suffered swelling and tenderness over the bridge of his nose, his left eye was bleeding and there was bruising around it.

John Woodward, defending, said McKenzie was sorry for what he did and his behaviour had had an impact on the whole of his family.

He said McKenzie thought he was going to be attacked. He struck a pre-emptive blow and that caused the victim to go to ground.