A COURT heard how a chance meeting on a Chorley street led a teenager to carry out a frenzied attack on a convicted sex offender.

Stephen Rothwell punched, kicked and stamped on his 42-year-old victim, who never regained consciousness before dying four months later.

The 18-year-old, of St Gregory's Place, Chorley, admitted murder and at Preston Crown Court a judge ordered that he be detained at Her Majesty's pleasure.

Rothwell had only just turned 17 when he openly attacked Allan Lord on Harrison Road in March of last year.

Miss Louise Godfrey, QC prosecuting, said Mr Lord was an alcoholic with a conviction in 1997 for indecency with a boy. However, there were no complaints about him or suggestions that he was posing any danger to the public.

He had said hello to a group of girls before Rothwell asked them if they had spoken to Mr Lord. After knocking him to the ground, the teenager was seen to kick and also stamp on him at least five times.

One shocked motorist also saw Rothwell slam Mr Lord's head down on the road.

The defendant went on to say: "He's a paedophile. He deserves all he gets." He also said "I can't believe it. I've blood all over my new trainers."

Mr Anthony Rumbelow QC, defending, said six days earlier Rothwell had been told that Mr Lord was a beast.

Judge Peter Openshaw QC said, in his judgment, it had been a vicious, determined and cowardly attack. It was all the more shocking, taking place in a public residential street, in front of many witnesses including young children.

He told Rothwell: "You judged him to be a paedophile, someone who was therefore worthless in your eyes and you thought he presented a risk to others.

"Indeed you said to the police and others he deserved to be savagely beaten up."