Club beating pair are spared prison

Paul Berry, 25, and Tony Savoini, 20, were part of a gang which attacked Paul Hankey when they wanted a drink after closing time.

Berry was given 60 hours community punishment and Savoini had sentence deferred, even though a judge said he at first had thought of sending them both straight to custody.

Judge Raymond Bennett said the victim had been entitled to close his club and it seemed that nowadays if an adult told off a group of young men, he got "duffed up".

The judge told Savoini if he kept out of trouble for the next five and a half months, he would not go to detention, but if he did not, a sentence of 15 months awaited him.

He added he hoped Mr Hankey would understand why he was taking such a course but he hoped in the long term better things would come out of it.

Savoini had already spent time in custody. His case was adjourned until Sept 23.

Berry, of Howard Close, Accrington, and Savoini, of Norfolk Grove, Church, had both admitted assault causing actual bodily harm.

Philip Holden, prosecuting, said Mr Hankey, licensee of the Stanley Street Social Club. Accrington, locked up last May.

A group went towards him, saying they wanted a drink and he felt threatened and went behind the doors.

The gang began kicking at the door and after sending a text message to his wife asking for help, Mr Hankey decided to go and confront the youths.

He was chased by the group and was then attacked, being kicked and punched several times to the head and body. He fell the the ground.

Mr Holden said after the 30 second assault stopped, Mr Hankey walked back to the club but when he got there, he was attacked again. His nose was bleeding heavily but all the men ran off.

Mr Hankey was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary, where he was found to have suffered bruising and swelling to his face. Both defendants were arrested.

Berry claimed he had been acting in self defence and Savoini said he was in bed at the time and did not assault anybody.